最新美国发明专利第2013-05-21期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08445787B2	Communication cable with improved electrical characteristics A communication cable with a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors and a matrix tape having conductive segments separated by gaps. In some embodiments, an insulating layer is placed between the twisted pairs of conductors and the matrix tape. In some embodiments, the insulating layer is an embossed or perforated film.
US08445785B2	Polybutylene naphthalate-based resin composition and electric wire using the polybutylene naphthalate-based resin composition A polybutylene naphthalate-based resin composition contains polybutylene naphthalate resin, a polyester block copolymer, and magnesium hydroxide; and an electric wire uses a polybutylene naphthalate-based resin composition, with an insulated coating layer formed on a conductor, by using a polybutylene naphthalate-based resin composition containing polybutylene naphthalate resin, a polyester block copolymer, and magnesium hydroxide as an insulating material.
US08445781B1	Electrical receptacle cover having safety bracket for use with fragrance dispenser The electrical receptacle cover having safety bracket for use with fragrance dispenser is an improved electrical receptacle cover that can secure an object plugged into an electrical outlet via a removable safety bracket. The removable safety bracket attaches at distal ends to lock slots located on the surface of the cover, and from which the safety bracket extends outwardly in order to encircle at least a portion of a perimeter of an object plugged into a respective outlet. The electrical receptacle cover and safety bracket prevent unintended unplugging of the object with respect to the electrical outlet thereby minimizing danger posed to small and curious children.
US08445778B2	Cable entry device for wiring boxes Disclosed herein are embodiments of a wiring box. The wiring box can include: a cavity formed by walls having an internal surface inside the cavity and an external surface; and a cable entry device disposed through a hole in a first wall of the walls. The cable entry device can include: a support element that retains a grommet in the hole, wherein the support element includes a stop, a grip extending from the stop, and shutters extending from the stop and defining an opening, wherein the opening converges away from the stop, the grip attaches the support element to the first wall, and wherein the grommet includes a rim, a sidewall extending from the rim and converging toward a diaphragm.
US08445774B2	Method of making an antireflective silica coating, resulting product, and photovoltaic device comprising same A low-index silica coating may be made by forming a silica precursor having a radiation curable composition including a radiation curable monomer and/or a photoinitiator, and also including a silica sol comprising a silane and/or a colloidal silica. The silica precursor may be deposited on a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) to form a coating layer. The coating layer may then be cured via exposure to electromagnetic radiation, such as UV radiation. Then, the cured coating layer may be fired using temperature(s) of from about 550 to 700° C., in forming the low-index silica based coating. The low-index silica based coating may be used as an antireflective (AR) film on a front glass substrate of a photovoltaic device (e.g., solar cell) in certain example instances.
US08445772B2	Thermoelectric power generator with intermediate loop A thermoelectric power generator is disclosed for use to generate electrical power from heat, typically waste heat. An intermediate heat transfer loop forms a part of the system to permit added control and adjustability in the system. This allows the thermoelectric power generator to more effectively and efficiently generate power in the face of dynamically varying temperatures and heat flux conditions, such as where the heat source is the exhaust of an automobile, or any other heat source with dynamic temperature and heat flux conditions.
US08445770B2	Programable switch for configuring circuit topologies The disclosed invention is a programmable switch for configuring circuit topologies. The switch can be any type of mechanical or electronic switch. Every setting of the switch can be programmed by a user, selecting topologies such as circuit elements in series, in parallel, in phase or out of phase. In a dual switch embodiment, the first switch selects the circuit elements to be used, and the second switch configures those selected elements in a wide variety of topologies. This division in switch circuit design between element selection and then topology provides an extremely wide range of circuit topologies available, unlike prior art designs.
US08445769B2	Performance apparatus and electronic musical instrument A performance apparatus 11 extends in its longitudinal direction to be held by a player with his or her hand, and is provided with an acceleration sensor 23 for detecting an acceleration sensor value and an angular rate sensor 22 for detecting an angular rate of rotation of the apparatus 11 about its longitudinal axis. CPU 21 detects a sound-generation timing based on the acceleration sensor value. Using the angular rate, CPU 21 calculates a rotation angle of the performance apparatus 11 made about its longitudinal axis in a period from a first and a second timing, wherein the first and second timing correspond to starting and finishing of swinging motion of the performance apparatus, respectively. CPU 21 determines to increase or decrease a sound volume level, in accordance with the direction and amount of the calculated rotation angle, thereby adjusting a sound volume level of musical tone.
US08445767B2	Method and system for interactive musical game An invention for an interactive musical game is presented that does not require the user to mentally map musical notation to instrument keys. More specifically, the invention comprises methods, apparatuses, and systems for entertainment using at least one electronic piano keyboard within a computer gaming system or module, wherein graphical game elements corresponding to note pitch, timing, duration, and/or rhythm align with and substantially correspond to the width of the keys.
US08445762B1	Inbred maize variety PH18DR A novel maize variety designated PH18DR and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18DR with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18DR through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18DR or a locus conversion of PH18DR with another maize variety.
US08445759B1	Soybean variety XBP38007 A novel soybean variety, designated XBP38007 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP38007, cells from soybean variety XBP38007, plants of soybean XBP38007, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP38007. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP38007 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP38007, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP38007, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP38007. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP38007 are further provided.
US08445756B1	Soybean variety XBP46003 A novel soybean variety, designated XBP46003 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP46003, cells from soybean variety XBP46003, plants of soybean XBP46003, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP46003. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP46003 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP46003, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP46003, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP46003. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP46003 are further provided.
US08445753B2	Cucumber hybrid Menfis A hybrid cucumber designated Menfis is disclosed having resistance to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), cucumber mosaic virus, and cucumber vein yellowing virus. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid cucumber Menfis, to the plants of hybrid cucumber Menfis, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid Menfis with itself or another cucumber plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a cucumber plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other cucumber lines, cultivars, or hybrids derived from the hybrid cucumber Menfis.
US08445752B2	Brassica oleracea plants with a resistance to Albugo candida At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to Brassica oleracea plants with a resistance gene to Albugo candida, the cause of white blister. At least one embodiment of the invention also relates to a method for providing a Brassica oleracea plant with a resistance to Albugo candida, the at least one embodiment including a) providing a first B. oleracea plant which comprises a resistance gene to A. candida; (b) crossing the resistant plant with a susceptible second B. oleracea plant; (c) isolating genomic DNA from the progeny for detecting the presence of an introgression with the resistance gene using one or more specific DNA markers linked to the resistance gene; and (d) selecting from the progeny a B. oleracea plant in which the presence of the introgression with the resistance gene has been demonstrated in step (c).
US08445749B2	Bacillus thuringiensis gene with lepidopteran activity The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.
US08445747B2	Plant responses The present invention relates to methods and uses for improving traits in plants which are important in the field of agriculture. In particular, the methods and uses of the invention use a plant Hsf to increase plant productivity, water use efficiency, drought or pathogen resistance.
US08445745B2	Animal model having a chimeric human liver and susceptible to human hepatitis C virus infection The present invention features a non-human animal model that is susceptible to infection by human hepatotrophic pathogens, particularly human hepatitis C virus (HCV). The model is based on a non-human, immunocompromised transgenic animal having a human-mouse chimeric liver, where the transgene provides for expression of a urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the liver. The invention also features methods for identifying candidate therapeutic agents, e.g., agents having antiviral activity against HCV infection. The animals of the invention are also useful in assessing toxicity of various agents, as well as the activity of agents in decreasing blood lipids.
US08445744B2	Extrusion bonded laminates for absorbent articles An absorbent article of the present invention may comprise a topsheet, an outer cover, and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The outer cover may comprise an extrusion bonded laminate. The EBL may comprise a multi-layer coextruded elastomeric film and a nonwoven. The film may comprise a core layer, a first outer layer, and a second outer layer, wherein the core layer is between the first and second outer layers. The nonwoven may comprise fibers and/or filaments. The first outer layer may be non-adhesively joined to the nonwoven via extrusion coating. Further, the outer cover may be elastic to at least about 50% engineering strain. The nonwoven may have high chemical affinity for the first outer layer. The first outer layer may have a low chemical affinity for the core layer. And, the first outer layer may comprise an amount of draw down polymer greater than about 45 wt %.
US08445742B2	Wound dressing and process for producing the same and use thereof A process for producing a wound dressing was provided having steps of: spinning an aqueous stock containing natural polymeric materials into a spin formation solution to form a wet polymeric spin; immersing the wet polymeric fiber into a softening reagent to obtain a softened wet polymeric spin; immersing the softened wet polymeric spin into a volatile reagent to expelling moisture in the softened wet polymeric fiber to form a polymeric fiber; forming a non-woven fabric of the polymeric fiber; and treating the non-woven fabric of the polymeric fiber with a coating solution to form a porous coating on the polymeric fiber to obtain a wound dressing. A process for manufacturing a polymeric fiber is also provided. A wound dressing produced by the process is also provided.
US08445737B2	Method and apparatus for reducing additives in a hydrocarbon stream A method for reducing one or more additives in a gaseous hydrocarbon stream (40) such as natural gas, comprising the steps of: (a) admixing an initial hydrocarbon feed stream (10) with one or more additives (20) to provide a multiphase hydrocarbon stream (30); (b) passing the multiphase hydrocarbon stream (30) from a first location (A) to a second location (B2); (c) at the second location (B2), passing the multiphase hydrocarbon stream (30) through a separator (22) to provide one or more liquid streams (50) comprising the majority of the one or more additives, and a gaseous hydrocarbon stream (40) comprising the remainder of the one or more additives; and (d) washing the gaseous hydrocarbon stream (40) in a decontamination unit (24) with a washing stream (60), wherein the washing stream (60) comprises distilled water, to provide an additive-enriched stream (70) and an additive-reduced hydrocarbon stream (80).
US08445735B2	Conversion of 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane to 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene Described is a method for producing fluoropropenes of formula CF3CX═CX2 wherein each X is F or H, at least one X is H, and at least one X is F, comprising pyrolyzing a hydrofluorochloropropane of formula CF3CXYCX2Y, wherein each X is F or H, at least one X is H, and at least one X is F, and one Y is Cl and the other Y is H, in the gas-phase in a reaction vessel, maintained at a temperature high enough to effect the pyrolysis of said hydrofluorochloropropane to said fluoropropene, wherein the selectivity for the production of the fluoropropene is at least 80%, in he absence of a catalyst.
US08445733B1	1,3 butylene glycol with reduced odor A method of reducing odor of 1,3-butylene glycol includes contacting the 1,3-butylene glycol with an activated carbon selected from wood-based activated carbons and chemically activated carbons.
US08445730B2	Process for producing phenol In a process for producing phenol or a substituted phenol, an alkylaromatic hydroperoxide having a general formula (I): in which R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, provided that R1 and R2 may be joined to form a cyclic group having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, said cyclic group being optionally substituted, and R3 represents hydrogen, one or more alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a cyclohexyl group, is contacted with a catalyst comprising an oxide of at least one metal from Groups 3 to 5 and Groups 7 to 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements and an oxide of at least one metal from Group 6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
US08445729B2	Process for the production of alkylbenzene hydroperoxides under mild conditions and in the presence of new catalytic systems Process for the preparation of hydroperoxides of alkylbenzenes characterized by the fact that the alkylbenzene reacts with oxygen in the presence of a catalytic system which includes an N-hydroxyimide or an N-hydroxysulfamide and a polar solvent.
US08445728B2	Method for reprocessing a liquid hydroformylation product The invention relates to a method for reprocessing a liquid product of a hydroformylation reaction, wherein the liquid phase produced in a release stage is supplied to a separating device from which a liquid flow containing rhodium is guided away via a filter, where solids thereby separated are taken out of the process and the filtrate obtained is guided back into the hydroformylation reaction.
US08445725B2	Process for the preparation of iosimenol A process for the preparation of iosimenol comprising reacting 5,5′-[(1,3-dioxo-1,3-propanediyl)diimino]bis[N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzenedicarboxamide] (C-VI) with a 3-halo-1,2-propanediol in an aqueous solvent. A process for the preparation of C-VI comprising reacting 3,3′-[(1,3-dioxo-1,3-propanediyl)diimino]bis[5-(aminocarbonyl)-2,4,6-triiodobenzoyl chloride] (C-V) with 3-amino-1,2-propanediol in the presence of an inorganic base and a suitable non-aqueous polar solvent. A process for the preparation of C-V comprising reacting 3-amino-5-(aminocarbonyl)-2,4,6-triiodobenzoyl chloride (C-IV) with malonyl dichloride in a solvent comprising a suitable ester solvent, a suitable nitrile solvent or mixtures thereof.
US08445723B2	Processes for producing N-alkyl (alkyl)acrylamides Methods of producing the N-alkyl(alkyl)acrylamides. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of producing an N-alkyl (alkyl)acrylamide comprising providing an aqueous solution comprising an N-alkyl amine and adding to the aqueous solution a base and an (alkyl)acrylic anhydride to form a precipitated N-alkyl(alkyl)acrylamide.
US08445722B2	Method for screening anti-cancer compounds inhibiting function of TM4SF5 and anti-cancer composition containing chalcone compounds The present invention relates to a method for screening an anticancer compound and an anticancer compound screened using the method, and more particularly, to a method for screening an anticancer compound, the method comprising: culturing cancer cells expressing the oncogenic protein transmembrane 4 L6 family member 5 (TM4SF5), expressed as the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, treating the cancer cells with an anticancer candidate, and determining that the anticancer candidate is an anticancer substance when the candidate exhibits antagonistic activity against tumor formation and metastasis based on several events through the molecular mechanism of TM4SF5. The present invention also relates to chalcone compounds screened to have anticancer activity using the method, and an anticancer composition comprising the compound as an effective ingredient.
US08445718B2	Method for producing phosphonic acid metal salt fine particles There is provided to a method for efficiently producing phosphonic acid metal salt fine particles with an average particle diameter of 0.5 μm or less with high efficiency. A method for producing phosphonic acid metal salt fine particles, comprising: a) causing a reaction of a phosphonic acid compound of Formula (I): (where R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms) with a base in an aqueous medium to adjust a pH range of the reaction system to be neutral to basic; b) causing a reaction of the product obtained in a) with a metal salt to precipitate a phosphonic acid metal salt from the aqueous medium; c) removing water from the phosphonic acid metal salt precipitated in b); and d) heating and drying the phosphonic acid metal salt from which water is removed in c).
US08445714B2	Cycloalkylmethylamines The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications.
US08445712B2	Phospholipid derivative and pH-responsive liposomes A phospholipid derivative represented by the following formula (1) wherein each symbol is as described in the specification; a liposome containing the phospholipid derivative, and the like.
US08445710B2	Phosphaplatins and their use in the treatment of cancers resistant to cisplatin and carboplatin The present invention provides phosphaplatins, stable isolated monomeric phosphato complexes of platinum (II) and (IV), and methods of use thereof for treating cancers, including cisplatin- and carboplatin-resistant cancers. Unlike cisplatin, these complexes do not readily undergo hydrolysis and are quite soluble and stable in aqueous solutions. Moreover, these complexes—unlike cisplatin, carboplatin, and related platinum-based anti-cancer agents—do not bind DNA. Rather, data suggests that phosphaplatins trigger overexpression of fas and fas-related transcription factors and some proapoptotic genes such as Bak and Bax. Nevertheless, the complexes exhibit tremendous cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. Thus, the present invention provides novel platinum anticancer agents that have a different molecular target than those in the art.
US08445702B2	Zinc binding compounds and their method of use The present invention provides a metal chelator and methods that facilitate binding, detecting, monitoring and quantitating of zinc ions in a sample. The metal chelating moiety of the zinc-binding compound is an analog of the well-known calcium chelator, BAPTA (1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid), wherein the chelating moiety has been modified from a tetraacetic acid moiety to a tri- di- or monoacetic moiety. This change in acetic acid groups on the metal chelating moiety results in the selective bindings of zinc ions in the presence of calcium ions, both of which are present in biological fluids and intracellular cytosolic fluid and organelles.
US08445701B2	Intermediates for the preparation of analogs of halichondrin B Intermediates and methods of their use in the synthesis of analogs of halichondrin B are provided.
US08445699B2	Phosphoric acid resistant polymaleimide prepolymer compositions The present invention relates to a phosphoric acid resistant advanced polymaleimide prepolymer composition including a polymaleimide prepolymer resulting from the advancement reaction of a polyimide and an alkenylphenol, alkenylphenol ether or mixture thereof in the presence of an amine catalyst; a solvent and a heteropolyacid. The phosphoric acid resistant advanced polymaleimide prepolymer composition may be used in various applications such as prepregs, laminates, printed circuit boards, castings, composites, moulded articles, adhesives and coatings.
US08445696B2	Synthetic methods for spiro-oxindole compounds This invention is directed to methods of preparing certain spiro-oxindole derivatives, which are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of sodium channel-mediated diseases or conditions, such as pain.
US08445692B2	Compounds that inhibit (block) bitter taste in composition and use thereof The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds present in, e.g., coffee. Also, the invention relates to the discovery of specific compounds and compositions containing that function as bitter taste blockers and the use thereof as bitter taste blockers or flavor modulators in, e.g., coffee and coffee flavored foods, beverages and medicaments. Also, the present invention relates to the discovery of a compound that antagonizes numerous different human T2Rs and the use thereof in assays and as a bitter taste blocker in compositions for ingestion by humans and animals.
US08445689B2	Pesticides Compounds having the following generic formula are disclosed.
US08445680B2	Tetrahydrothieno pyridines The present invention relates to tetrahydrothienopyridine compounds useful as HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia and like conditions.
US08445679B2	7-substituted indole MCL-1 inhibitors Compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein, compositions containing the compounds, and methods of treating diseases involving overexpressed or unregulated Mcl-1 protein are disclosed.
US08445678B2	2-quinoxalinol salen compounds and uses thereof Disclosed are 2-quinoxalinol salen compounds and in particular 2-quinoxalinol salen Schiff-base ligands. The disclosed 2-quinoxalinol salen compounds may be utilized as ligands for forming complexes with cations, and further, the formed complexes may be utilized as catalysts for oxidation reactions. The disclosed 2-quinoxalinol salen compounds also may be conjugated to solid supports and utilized in methods for selective solid-phase extraction or detection of cations.
US08445676B2	Pyrrolotriazine kinase inhibitors The present invention provides compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula I compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity of such as Jak2 and CK2, thereby making them useful as antiproliferative agents for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
US08445674B2	Heterocyclyl compounds The invention is concerned with novel bicyclic compounds of formula (I), wherein n, m, p, A, L, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds are antagonists of CCR2 receptor, CCR5 receptor and/or CCR3 receptor may be used, for example, in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory diseases, particularly peripheral arterial occlusive diseases or atherothrombosis.
US08445672B2	High shear process for dextrose production Use of a high shear mechanical device in a process for production of starch hydrolysate by reacting starch with a hydrolytic agent makes possible a decrease in mass transfer limitations, thereby enhancing production of starch hydrolysate. A system for production of starch hydrolysate is also provided in which a reactor is configured to receive the output from a high shear device, which is configured to receive a starch and lysing reagent. The high shear device is configured to generate a fine dispersion or emulsion of lysing.
US08445670B2	Combinatorial library approach to iminocyclitols with biological activity A method of synthesizing stereochemically defined iminocyclitol comprises replacing an intraring oxygen in a cyclic sugar by an intraring imine to form an iminocyclitol, wherein said iminocyclitol has a defined stereochemical configuration different from a stereochemical configuration of the cyclic sugar. The invention also provides combinatorial libraries of iminocyclitol compounds, allowing for diverse C1 and N-substitution. In addition, provided are methods of treating viral infections with iminocyclitols compounds.
US08445668B2	SiRNA targeting apolipoprotein (APOB) Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for APOB.
US08445665B2	Therapeutic compositions This application relates to iRNA agents and methods of making and using the agents. The iRNA agent comprises a sense sequence and an antisense sequence. The antisense strand and/or the sense strand may contain formula (8) or its L-nucleoside or 2′-5′ linkage isomer: The iRNA agents of the invention can present increased nuclease resistance.
US08445664B2	Kits for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid sequences This invention provides novel processes for amplifying nucleic acid sequences of interest, including linear and non-linear amplification. In linear amplification, a single initial primer or nucleic acid construct is utilized to carry out the amplification process. In non-linear amplification, a first initial primer or nucleic acid construct is employed with a subsequent initial primer or nucleic acid construct. In other non-linear amplification processes provided by this invention, a first initial primer or nucleic acid construct is deployed with a second initial primer or nucleic acid construct to amplify the specific nucleic acid sequence of interest and its complement that are provided. A singular primer or a singular nucleic acid construct capable of non-linear amplification can also be used to carry out non-linear amplification in accordance with this invention. Post-termination labeling process for nucleic acid sequencing is also disclosed in this invention that is based upon the detection of tagged molecules that are covalently bound to chemically reactive groups provided for chain terminators. A process for producing nucleic acid sequences having decreased thermodynamic stability to complementary sequences is also provided and achieved by this invention. Unique nucleic acid polymers are also disclosed and provided in addition to other novel compositions, kits and the like.
US08445658B2	Proteins with repetitive bacterial-Ig-like (Big) domains present in Leptospira species The invention relates to three isolated DNA molecules that encode for proteins, BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3, in the Leptospira sp bacterium which have repetitive Bacterial-Ig-like (Big) domains and their use in diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine applications. According to the present invention, the isolated molecules encoding for BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3 proteins are used for the diagnosis and prevention of infection with Leptospira species that are capable of producing disease in humans and other mammals, including those of veterinary importance.
US08445656B2	Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with inflammatory diseases The present disclosure describes the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammatory diseases and uses thereof, and methods of screening for, diagnosing, identifying susceptibility to or detecting a risk of developing an inflammatory disease comprising detecting the presence or absence of at least one SNP identified in a gene associated with inflammatory disease.
US08445654B2	Antibiotic macrocycle compounds and methods of manufacture and use thereof The invention encompasses an active metabolite of the 18-membered macrocyclic antimicrobial agents, specifically, a metabolite of tiacumicin B and in certain embodiments, R-Tiacumicin B or and its related compounds. In particular, the invention encompasses a compound that acts as a potent antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial infections, specifically GI infections caused by toxin producing strains of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens).
US08445653B2	Freeze-dried preparation of stabilized anthracycline compound The present invention provides a lyophilized preparation of amrubicin, which contains L-cysteine or a salt thereof and has a water content of 0 to about 4% by weight within the preparation, and is stable even in a long-term storage, and further provides a method for production of said preparation. Said preparation is useful as a chemotherapeutic agent for cancers.
US08445652B2	3, 6-O-bridged pyranose inversion compound and process for producing B-O-pyranoside An object of the present invention is to provide a 3,6-O-bridged pyranose-inverted compound useful for being easy to produce β-O-pyranosides selectively.The 3,6-O-bridged pyranose-inverted compound according to the present invention is represented by General Formula (1): wherein RA and RB each represent hydrogen or are bonded to each other to form a benzene ring; one of RC and RD represents hydrogen and the other represents —OR2; R1 represents hydroxy or halogen; and R2 and R3 each represent a hydroxy-protecting group.
US08445651B2	Method for producing charge control agent and toner The invention discloses a method for producing a charge control agent and a toner containing the charge control agent. The preparation method includes the technical proposal that in aqueous medium, an azo compound is reacted with a salicylic acid chromium complex, which is used as a complexing agent to synthesize a specific azo chromium complex. The preparation method is characterized by complex synthesis engineering. The toner of the invention includes a charge control agent obtained from the method described herein. Provided is a method for obtaining a charge control agent and a toner with excellent chargeability in that no flying or fogging is observed, even during image formation at high printing speeds. The toner is relatively free from the influences of variations in the environmental temperature and humidity, which ensures stable image printing with high picture quality for long periods of time.
US08445649B2	Antibody and use thereof An antibody provided by the present invention has a low reactivity with amyloid precursor proteins, and has a higher reactivity with amylospheroids than with amyloid β fibrils or monomeric amyloid β-proteins. According to the present invention, an antibody is provided that has a higher reactivity with amylospheroids than with amyloid precursor proteins, and has any one or more of the following properties: (i) a higher activity with amylospheroids than with amyloid β fibrils; (ii) a higher reactivity with amylospheroids than with monomeric amyloid β-proteins; and (iii) an activity of inhibiting neuronal cell death induced by amylospheroids.
US08445644B2	ErbB interface peptidomimetics and methods of use thereof Peptides, mimetics and antibodies of erbB, TNF, and IgSF receptors and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are described. Methods of using such antibodies, peptides, and mimetics in therapeutic, prophylactic, imaging and diagnostic applications are disclosed.
US08445642B1	Methods to differentiate protein conformers The invention is directed to methods to distinguish among different protein conformers of the same protein such as proteins which form amyloid deposits. Using the methods of the invention, one or more protein conformers in a sample can be detected, differentiated, and quantitated. An example of a protein which is known to exist in at least two conformations is the normal prion protein (PrPC) and its infectious isoform (PrPSc). The invention provides means to distinguish PrPC from PrPSc and allows quantitation of each individually, even when the conformers are present together in a mixture. Thus, the methods of the invention can provide important tools for human and animal health.
US08445637B2	SPARC binding peptides and uses thereof Disclosed are SPARC and albumin binding peptides for the targeting of disease sites, such as tumors, with therapeutic and diagnostic agents In particular, compositions comprising SPARC binding peptide—Antibody Fc domain fusion proteins and methods of their use are disclosed.
US08445635B2	Modified H2 relaxin for tumor suppression Modified H2 relaxms which act as antagonists of the relaxm receptor in cells and tissues, in particular, modified H2 relaxms comprising one or more alterations of the ammo acid sequence at positions B 13, B17 and B20 located in the receptor binding domain The antagonists retain affinity to the receptor, but do not substantially activate the receptor once bound thereto The H2 relaxm antagonists are used in compositions and methods for the treatment of cancers wherein a relaxm receptor is expressed.
US08445634B2	Method of producing FR901228 Depsipeptides and congeners thereof are disclosed having structure (I), wherein m, n, p, q, X, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein. These compounds, including FR901228, have activity as, for example, immunosuppressants, as well as for the prevention or treatment of patients suffering or at risk of suffering from inflammatory, autoimmune or immune system-related diseases including graft-versus-host disease and enhancement of graft/tissue survival following transplant. Also provided are methods for inhibiting lymphocyte activation, proliferation, and/or suppression of IL-2 secretion.
US08445629B2	Method for producing polyarylene sulfide A method for producing an acid group-containing polyarylene sulfide of the present invention includes a reaction step of reacting a polyhaloaromatic compound (a), an alkali metal hydrosulfide (b), and an alkali metal carboxylate (c) in the presence of a solid alkali metal sulfide and a lithium ion.
US08445628B2	Copolymer resin composition, molded product, and method of manufacturing a copolymer resin composition Disclosed is a copolymer resin composition including a lactic acid copolymer, the lactic acid copolymer containing monomer units represented by the following chemical formulas [1], [2], and [3], wherein a content of a monomer unit represented by the chemical formula [3] is 50 mol % or more and 95 mol % or less, a weight-average molecular weight of the lactic acid copolymer is 20,000 or more and 1,000,000 or less, and a deflection temperature of the lactic acid copolymer under load is 65° C. or higher and 100° C. or lower at a bending stress of 1.80 MPa.
US08445627B2	Alkylene-dicarboxylate-containing biodegradable poly(ester-amides) and methods of use The invention provides new aliphatic diester-di-acid-containing PEA polymer compositions with significant improvement in hydrolytic degradation rates as compared to aliphatic di-acid-containing PEA polymers. The di-acids used in the invention PEA compositions include non-toxic fatty aliphatic homologs. These molecules inherently contain two-ester groups, which easily can be cleaved by biotic (enzymatic) and abiotic hydrolysis. Additional di-acid-type compounds useful for active polycondensation are α,ω-alkylene dicarboxylates composed of short aliphatic non toxic diols and di-acids. In addition, the invention PEA polymer compositions optionally can include a second monomer, such as a C-protected L-lysine-based monomer, to introduce additional chain flexibility into the polymer. The invention PEA polymer compositions are useful for delivery of bioactive agents when administered internally.
US08445625B2	Polyether and its production process A process for producing a polyether having at least one hydroxy group by subjecting a cyclic monomer to ring-opening addition polymerization to an initiator having a hydroxy group in the presence of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst, comprising the following steps: initial step: supplying the cyclic monomer in an amount of 5 to 20 mass percent of the initiator to a reaction system containing the initiator and the catalyst, to carry out reaction, wherein the reaction system temperature when supply of the cyclic monomer is started is from 120 to 165° C., and the maximum temperature of the reaction system after supply of the cyclic monomer is higher by from 15 to 50° C. than the temperature when supply of the cyclic monomer is started; and polymerization step: supplying the cyclic monomer to the reaction system after the initial step to carry out ring-opening addition polymerization.
US08445623B2	Process for the preparation of polyisocyanates with a biuret structure The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of polyisocyanates with a biuret structure by continuous reaction of excess amounts of organic diisocyanates having exclusively aliphatically and/or cycloaliphatically bonded isocyanate groups with organic diamines having exclusively aliphatically and/or cycloaliphatically bonded primary amino groups at elevated temperatures by 2-stage addition of the isocyanate component.
US08445610B2	Controlled radical polymerization processes A transition metal mediated chain transfer agent controlled polymerization process is described. The process combines the advantages of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Synthesis of chain transfer agents useful in the disclosed processes is also disclosed. Other improvements on ATRP RAFT processes are also described.
US08445599B2	Multi-stage process for producing polyethylene with lowered gel formation The present inventions relates to a process for producing polyethylene compositions comprising polymerizing polyethylene resins in a cascaded multi-stage reaction in which the reaction steps are performed in at least two slurry phase reactors (A) and (B) and at least one gas phase reactor (C) which are arranged in series in any order wherein in reactor (A) a low molecular weight ethylene homo- or copolymer fraction having a MFR2 of 100 to 2000 g/10 min, in reactor (B) a low molecular weight ethylene homo- or copolymer fraction having an MFR2 of 100 to 2000 g/10 min, and in reactor (C) a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer fraction are polymerized, and further comprising a compounding step after polymerization, wherein the final polyethylene composition has a MFR21 of 3 to 50 g/10 min, the melt flow rates being determined according to ISO 1133.
US08445598B2	Heterophasic polypropylene with high flowability and excellent low temperature impact properties The present invention relates to a heterophasic polypropylene resin comprising a propylene homo- or copolymer matrix (A) and an ethylene-propylene rubber phase (B) dispersed within the matrix, wherein the heterophasic polypropylene resin has a fraction insoluble in p-xylene at 25° C. (XCU) with an intrinsic viscosity of 1.5 dl/g or less, determined according to DIN EN ISO 1628-1 and -3 and an amount of propylene monomer units of at least 95 mol %, and a fraction soluble in p-xylene at 25° C. (XCS) with an intrinsic viscosity of 1.5 to 3.0 dl/g, determined according to DIN EN ISO 1628-1 and -3, and an amount of propylene monomer units of 50 to 75 mol %, and a MFR (2.16 kg, 230° C.) of more than 100 g/10 min, determined according to ISO 1133, a heterophasic polypropylene composition comprising such a resin, a process for preparing that resin, and an article made thereof.
US08445595B2	Polypropylene prepared with a single-site catalyst and poly(hydroxyl carboxylic acid) blends A resin composition comprising at least 0.1% by weight of poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid) and at least 50% by weight of polypropylene prepared with a single-site catalyst, preferably with a metallocene catalyst.
US08445593B2	Resin composition and molded article comprising the same A resin composition comprises a polylactic acid resin (A) 75-10 wt %, an aromatic polycarbonate resin (B) 25-90 wt % and a polymer compound to which a glycidyl compound or an acid anhydride is grafted or copolymerized (D) 1-50 wt parts with respect to 100 wt parts of the total of the component (A) and the component (B).
US08445592B2	Crosslinkable graft polymer non-preferentially wetted by polystyrene and polyethylene oxide Methods for fabricating a random graft PS-r-PEO copolymer and its use as a neutral wetting layer in the fabrication of sublithographic, nanoscale arrays of elements including openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. In some embodiments, the films can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.
US08445590B2	Compositions useful for preparing composites and composites produced therewith A composite prepared using a thermosettable epoxy resin composition having, as components: (1) an epoxy resin; (2) an epoxidized cycloaliphatic dicyclopentadiene phenolic resin; (3) an optional epoxidized bisphenol-A novolac resin; (4) an optional oligomeric butadiene; (5) an optional organic solvent; and (6) an alkylphenol novolac resin, the alkylphenol novolac resin serving as a curing agent. The composite so prepared may have good physical properties and superior a electrical properties as compared to conventional composites, such as laminates. The prepregs used to make the laminates may have a better surface appearance as well.
US08445588B2	Hydrophilic copolymers and assemblies containing the same A water soluble copolymer includes first and second hydrophilic block segments or graft chains. The first hydrophilic block segment or graft chain contains cyclodextrin groups in at least a majority of its repeating units, and the second hydrophilic block segment or graft chain contains repeating units other than cyclodextrin groups. The first and second block segments or graft chains are covalently linked.
US08445577B2	Amphiphilic multi-arm copolymers and nanomaterials derived therefrom The present invention relates to polymers, nanomaterials, and methods of making the same. Various embodiments provide an amphiphilic multi-arm copolymer. The copolymer includes a core unit and a plurality of amphiphilic block copolymer arms. Each block copolymer arm is substituted on the core unit. Each block copolymer arm includes at least one hydrophilic homopolymer subunit and at least one hydrophobic homopolymer subunit. In some examples, the copolymer can include a star-like or bottlebrush-like block copolymer, and can include a Janus copolymer. Various embodiments provide a nanomaterial. In some examples, the nanomaterial can include Janus nanomaterials, and can include nanoparticles, nanorods, or nanotubes. The nanomaterial includes the amphiphilic multi-arm copolymer and at least one inorganic precursor. The inorganic precursor can be coordinated to at least one homopolymer subunit of one of the amphiphilic block copolymer arms to form the nanomaterial. Various embodiments also provide methods of making the copolymer and the nanomaterial.
US08445574B2	Heat resistant thermoplastic articles including polyhydroxy polymers Disclosed is a molded or extruded thermoplastic article, including a thermoplastic polyamide composition including (a) a polyamide resin having a melting point and/or glass transition; (b) 0.25 to 20 weight percent of one or more polyhydroxy polymer(s); (c) 0 to 3 weight percent of one or more co-stabilizer(s) selected from the group consisting of secondary aryl amines, hindered amine light stabilizers, hindered phenols, and mixtures thereof; (d) 10 to about 60 weight percent of one or more reinforcement agents; (e) and 0 to 20 weight percent of a polymeric toughener; wherein the composition has an air oven aging retention of tensile strength of at least 50 percent, as compared with that of an unexposed control of identical composition and shape.
US08445572B2	Rubber composition Disclosed is a rubber composition containing (A) a natural rubber, a diene synthetic rubber or a combination of them and (B) 50-120 parts by weight of a silicic acid-based or silicate-based inorganic filler per 100 parts by weight of the component (A). This rubber composition is characterized by further containing (C) 0.2-20 parts by weight of a certain amine salt per 100 parts by weight of the component (A).
US08445566B2	Continuous process for producing a reactive polymer The invention relates to a continuous process for producing a reactive polymer based on compounds according to the structures (A1) and/or (A2) and phenolic resin in an extruder and to the reactive polymer produced according to said process and the use thereof for producing composite materials.
US08445558B2	Dental compositions including organogelators, products, and methods A hardenable dental composition that includes a polymerizable component and an organogelator.
US08445552B2	Solid surface sheets containing post-consumer recycled materials and methods of making same Embodiments of the present invention are directed to solid surface sheets and methods of making solid surface sheets, wherein the method comprises dissolving post-consumer recycled polystyrene in a first liquid resin precursor to form a blend, solidifying the blend via curing, grinding the solidified blend into recycled particles, adding the recycled particles and filler into a second liquid resin precursor to produce a solid surface precursor, and molding and curing the solid surface precursor to produce the solid surface sheet.
US08445551B2	Solid electrolyte membrane for fuel cell and process for producing same Disclosed are a solid electrolyte membrane for fuel cells, which is characterized by that there has been used a silicone resin obtained by subjecting a methide series siloxane compound having a specific, strong acid bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)methide moiety, a specific polysiloxane compound, and a specific silane compound to a cross-linking reaction, and its production process. This membrane has heat resistance, is superior in chemical stability, has a good proton conductivity even under a low water content condition, and has a low methanol permeability.
US08445550B2	Ruthenium hybrid fischer-tropsch catalyst, and methods for preparation and use thereof Disclosed is a method of forming a hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalyst extrudate for use in synthesis gas conversion reactions. The method includes extruding a mixture of ruthenium loaded metal oxide support particles, particles of an acidic component and a binder sol to form an extrudate. The resulting extrudate contains from about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent ruthenium based on the weight of the extrudate. In a synthesis gas conversion reaction, the extrudate is contacted with a synthesis gas having a H2 to CO molar ratio of 0.5 to 3.0 at a reaction temperature of 160° C. to 300° C., a total pressure of 3 to 35 atmospheres, and an hourly space velocity of 5 to 10,000 v/v/hour, resulting in hydrocarbon products containing 1-15 weight % CH4; 1-15 weight % C2-C4; 70-95 weight % C5+; 0-5 weight % C21+ normal paraffins; and 0-10 weight % aromatic hydrocarbons.
US08445549B2	Systems and processes for processing hydrogen and carbon monoxide In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled using an off-gas catalytic reformer and a gas turbine exhaust gas heat exchanger that will perform preheating duties.
US08445540B2	Regulation of osteopontin The present invention provides methods for the regulation of osteopontin activity in a subject as well as for treating or preventing conditions associated with an increased activity of osteopontin activity in a subject.
US08445539B2	Alpha-aminoamide derivatives useful in the treatment of psychiatric disorders The disclosure relates to pharmacotherapy of a psychiatric disorder which is schizophrenia and/or anxiety, wherein schizophrenia includes schizophrenia related disorders such as brief psychotic disorders, delusional disorders, schizoaffective disorders, and schizophreniform disorders, and anxiety includes panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), social phobia or social anxiety disorders, specific phobia, and generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). The compounds of the disclosure are useful for the treatment of the above psychiatric disorders alone or in combination with other therapeutical agents effective in the treatment of schizophrenia and/or anxiety disorders.
US08445535B1	Use of medium chain triglycerides for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other diseases resulting from reduced neuronal metabolism II Methods and compositions for treating or preventing, the occurrence of senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, or other conditions arising from reduced neuronal metabolism and leading to lessened cognitive function are described. In a preferred embodiment the administration of triglycerides or fatty acids with chain lengths between 5 and 12, to said patient at a level to produce an improvement in cognitive ability.
US08445533B2	Andrographolide derivatives to treat viral infections The present invention provides a methods and compositions for treating a host afflicted with a viral infection, particularly a Flaviviridae infection, including hepatitis C infection, comprising administering an effective antiviral amount of a derivative of andrographolide alone or in combination or alternation with another antiviral compound.
US08445531B2	Rodenticidal compounds, composition including same and use thereof for controlling harmful rodents A rodenticidal compound of formula (I): as well as the isomers thereof, in particular enantiomers, diastereoisomers, tautomers or mixtures of isomers in all proportions, where: R1 is: H or (II) or (III) with X═H, OH, Cl, Br, F or N02; R2 is: (IV) or (V) or (VI) with X═H, OH, Cl, Br, F or NO2; R3 is: O or S or (VII) with X═H, OH, Cl, Br, F or N02. Compositions containing such compounds as well as a method of use thereof in controlling harmful rodents are also described.
US08445530B2	Acylamino-substituted fused cyclopentanecarboxylic acid derivatives and their use as pharmaceuticals The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, wherein A, Y, Z, R3 to R6, R20 to R22 and R50 have the meanings indicated in the claims, which are valuable pharmaceutical active compounds. Specifically, they are inhibitors of the endothelial differentiation gene receptor 2 (Edg-2, EDG2), which is activated by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and is also termed as LPA1 receptor, and are useful for the treatment of diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and heart failure, for example. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of the formula I, their use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US08445529B2	Indole derivative having, carbamoyl group, ureido group and substituted oxy group An indole compound having a carbamoyl group, a ureido group and a substituted oxy group having the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: In the formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxy group, or an alkoxy group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group; R3 represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group an alkoxy group, an alkenyloxy group, an alkynyloxy group, a cycloalkyloxy group, an aryloxy group or a heterocyclic oxy group; m represents 0, 1, 2, or 3.
US08445526B2	Compositions and methods for treatment of glaucoma The invention provides α-2 adrenergic receptor agonist compositions and methods for treating glaucoma and other intraocular conditions. The preferred α-2 agonist used in the inventive compositions and methods is dexmedetomidine.
US08445524B2	Solid forms of bendamustine hydrochloride Novel solid forms of bendamustine hydrochloride are described, as well as methods of their preparation and use.
US08445523B2	Dioxo-imidazolidine derivatives, which inhibit the enzyme SOAT-1, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions containing them SOAT-1 inhibitors of general formula (I) and cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions containing such a compound are described.
US08445521B2	Synergistic antimicrobial composition A synergistic antimicrobial composition. The composition contains at least two components. The first component is ortho-phenylphenol or its alkali metal or ammonium salts. The second component is 4,4-dimethyloxazolidine (DMOZ).
US08445520B2	Tricyclic compounds, compositions, and methods The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: or salt thereof, which are modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor. The compounds and salts of the invention are useful in the treatment of conditions mediated by glucocorticoid receptor activity.
US08445517B2	Stat modulators The present invention is directed to methods, kits and compositions for modulating the activity of Stat molecules (e.g., Stat1, Stat3 and Stat5). The compounds of the invention are useful for treating and/or preventing disorders characterized by Stat dysregulation, such as hyperproliferative disorders. Further, the compounds of the present invention are also useful in culturing stem cells and treating ischemic disorders.
US08445512B2	Substituted quinoline-3-carboxamides as KCNQ2/3 modulators The invention relates to substituted quinoline-3—Carboxamides, to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and also to these compounds for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of pain and further diseases and/or disorders.
US08445506B2	Polymorphs of lopinavir The present invention provides a novel cyclohexane solvate form of lopinavir, and a process for its preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a novel desolvated crystalline form of lopinavir, process for its preparation and to pharmaceutical composition containing it. Thus, for example, lopinavir cyclohexane solvate was heated at 100° C. for 10 hours to give lopinavir desolvated crystalline form H1.
US08445505B2	Pyrimidine derivatives as kinase inhibitors The invention provides novel pyrimidine derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for using such compounds. For example, the pyrimidine derivatives of the invention may be used to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition which responds to inhibition of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-IR) or analplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK).
US08445503B2	Inhibitors of polo-like kinase The present invention provides compounds having a structure according to Formula (I): or a salt or solvate thereof, wherein ring A, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined herein. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds of the invention and methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the invention, e.g., in the treatment and prevention of various disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
US08445500B2	Pesticidal compositions The invention disclosed in this document is related to field of pesticides and their use in controlling pests.
US08445498B2	4,6-disubstituted pyrimidines useful as kinase inhibitors The present invention provides 4,6-disubstituted pyrimidine compound useful as kinase inhibitors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08445494B2	Crystalline form of 6-[(4S)-2-methyl-4-(2-naphthyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl]pyridazin-3-amine The present disclosure generally relates to a crystalline form of 6-[(4S)-2-methyl-4-(naphthyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl]pyridazin-3-amine. The present disclosure also generally relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline form, as well of methods of using a crystalline form in the treatment of depression and other conditions and methods for obtaining such crystalline form.
US08445493B2	Tetrasubstituted pyridazines hedgehog pathway antagonists The present invention provides novel tetrasubstituted pyridazine hedgehog pathway antagonists useful in the treatment of cancer.
US08445490B2	Compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C The disclosure provides compounds of formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US08445489B2	Aryl ether pyridazinone derivatives Compounds of the formula I, in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and X have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumors.
US08445488B2	Pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl-amines and pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidin-5-yl-amines as Janus kinase inhibitors The present invention provides pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-4-yl amines pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidin-4-yl amines that modulate the activity of Janus kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases and cancer.
US08445472B2	TGR5 modulators and methods of use thereof The invention relates to compounds of Formula A: or a salt, solvate, hydrate, or prodrug thereof. The compounds of Formula A are TGR5 modulators useful for the treatment of various diseases, including metabolic disease, inflammatory disease, liver disease, autoimmune disease, cardiac disease, kidney disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal disease.
US08445470B2	Carbonate and carbamate modified forms of glucocorticoids in combination with B2 adrenergic agonists Compositions containing β2 adrenergic agonists in combination with carbonates and carbamates of the formula. and in combination with related steroid carbonates and carbamates are disclosed. The compositions are useful for treating bronchospasm, for inducing bronchodilation and for treating rhinitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inflammatory diseases, particularly by inhalation.
US08445468B2	(20S,22E)-2-methylene-19-nor-22-ene-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 This invention discloses (20S,22E)-2-methylene-19-nor-22-ene-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogs, and specifically(20S,22E)-2-methylene-19-nor-22-ene-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits significant vitamin D receptor binding activity and transcription activity as well as pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent, especially for the treatment or prevention of leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer or prostate cancer.
US08445467B2	Reducing risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) This invention relates to methods for reducing chronic subacute inflammatory states associated with obesity and improve glycemia, thereby preventing or delaying the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in obese subjects, or subjects with the metabolic syndrome, using non-acetylated forms of salicylate, e.g., salsalate or trilisate.
US08445463B2	Methods of use of biomaterial and injectable implant containing biomaterial This invention relates to the use of a biomaterial for the treatment, repair and/or enhancement of bodily tissue insufficiencies of the vocal chords, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, post-operative regions, sexual organs and/or weight supporting areas of the feet as well as other conditions of the bones and joints. The biomaterial for use in the invention may comprise an injectable bioresorbable polysaccharide composition wherein the polysaccharide may be succinochitosan glutamate. This invention also relates to the use of a biomaterial comprising an injectable bioresorbable polysaccharide composition in which resorbable particles may be in suspension, the said particles comprising or consisting essentially of chitin and/or chitosan, which may be free of any additional formulation modifying agents, and a process for manufacturing the same. The invention also includes the use of various medicaments in the biomaterial formulations to enhance the treatment of the affected area of the body.
US08445459B2	Combination of monosaccharide with C-glycoside derivative and use thereof Composition, especially a cosmetic and/or dermatological composition, containing, in a physiologically acceptable medium, at least one of mannose, and rhamnose and at least one additional compound chosen from C-glycosides and C-glycoside derivatives. Use of such a composition, and also a device containing it.
US08445448B2	FVIII peptides and their use in tolerising haemophiliacs The present invention provides a peptide comprising a core residue sequence derivable from human FVIII which peptide is capable of binding to an MHC class II molecule without further antigen processing. The present invention also relates to the use of such peptides for the prevention or suppression of inhibitor antibody formation in haemophilia A and/or acquired haemophilia.
US08445447B2	B7-DC variants immunogenic compositions and methods of use thereof Compositions and methods for costimulating T cells (i.e., increasing antigen-specific proliferation of T cells, enhancing cytokine production by T cells, stimulating differentiation ad effector functions of T cells and/or promoting T cell survival) are provided. Suitable compositions include variant B7-DC polypeptides, fragments and fusion proteins thereof. Variant B7-DC polypeptides have reduced binding affinity for the inhibitory PD-1 ligand and substantially retain the ability to costimulate T cells. Methods for using variant B7-DC polypeptides to stimulate immune responses in subjects in need thereof are provided.
US08445446B2	Unnatural reactive amino acid genetic code additions This invention provides compositions and methods for producing translational components that expand the number of genetically encoded amino acids in eukaryotic cells. The components include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, pairs of tRNAs/synthetases and unnatural amino acids. Proteins and methods of producing proteins with unnatural amino acids in eukaryotic cells are also provided.
US08445445B2	Method of promoting hair growth using FGFR4 extracellular domains The present invention relates to a method of promoting hair growth comprising administering a fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) extracellular domain (ECD), including native FGFR4 ECDs, variants, fragments, and fusion molecules, to a subject in an amount sufficient to promote hair growth.
US08445440B2	Dimeric IAP inhibitors The present invention provides compounds of formula M-L-M′ (where M and M′ are each independently a monomeric moiety of Formula (I) and L is a linker). The dimeric compounds have been found to be effective in promoting apoptosis in rapidly dividing cells.
US08445437B2	Treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease using mast cell stabilizers The present invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing the development of cardiovascular disease by administering compounds that stabilize mast cells. In addition, it includes pharmaceutical compositions which have both a mast cell stabilizer and instructions regarding the use of the stabilizer in treating or preventing cardiovascular disease. The methods and compositions will be of particular value for preventing aneurysms of the abdominal aorta in individuals with atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension or a family history of aneurysms.
US08445436B2	Oxytocin and melatonin compositions and associated methods for inducing labor The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition containing oxytocin and melatonin in amounts therapeutically effective for inducing labor in a pregnant human patient. Preferably, the oxytocin content is reduced to mitigate unwanted side effects and the melatonin content synergistically enhances the oxytocin's labor-inducing effectiveness. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of a pregnant human patient experiencing pre-term labor characterized by early expression of melatonin receptors in myometrial cells, the composition containing one or more agents which interfere with melatonin binding to said receptors. Additionally, the invention includes a method of treatment effective in inducing labor in a pregnant human patient, the method comprising coadministering melatonin and oxytocin to the patient and a method of treating pre-term labor in a pregnant human patient manifesting early expression of melatonin receptors in her myometrial tissues, the method comprising administering to the patient an agent effective in blocking melatonin binding to the receptors.
US08445435B2	Mast cell stabilizers in the treatment of obesity The present invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing the development of obesity by administering compounds that stabilize mast cells. In addition, it includes pharmaceutical compositions which have both a mast cell stabilizer and instructions regarding the use of the stabilizer in treating or preventing obesity.
US08445431B2	Ligands having metal binding ability and targeting properties Ligands having a metal binding domain and a targeting domain are provided. The ligands can be used to target, inhibit, and catalytically degrade or inactivate a desired target. Methods of treating a disease or condition using the ligands are also provided.
US08445427B2	Endotoxin adsorbent, and method for removing endotoxin using the same The invention provides a method for selecting and eliminating endotoxin selectively from a solution where a highly acidic substance such as heparin co-exists, and an adsorbent used therefore. The invention also provides a method for providing the endotoxin adsorbent, which includes partially modifying amino groups contained within an amino group-containing molecule used as a ligand of the endotoxin adsorbent, with a molecule that is capable of reacting with an amino group.
US08445426B2	Peptides and methods for producing them The present invention relates to the fields of life sciences and food, feed or pharmaceutical industry. Specifically, the invention relates to novel peptides, pilus structures, polynucleotides as well as vectors, host cells, products and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polynucleotides, peptides or pilus structures. The invention also relates to gene clusters and antibodies. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for producing the peptides or pilus structures or producing the products comprising the peptides or pilus structures. Furthermore, the present invention relates to treatments as well as uses and methods for screening bacterial strains, for reducing or inhibiting the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, promoting the adhesion of bacterial cells to the mucus and for modifying immune response in a subject. Still, the present invention relates to methods for detecting probiotic bacterial strains or pathogen strains.
US08445425B2	Urocortin-III and uses thereof A search of the public human genome database identified a human EST, GenBank accession number AW293249, which has high homology to known pufferfish urocortin sequences. The full length sequence was amplified from human genomic DNA and sequenced. Sequence homology comparisons of the novel sequence with human urocortin I and urocortin II revealed that the sequence encoded a novel human urocortin, which was designated urocortin III (UcnIII). While urocortin III does not have high affinity for either CRF-R1 or CRF-R2, the affinity for CRF-R2 is greater than the affinity for CRF-R1. Urocortin III is capable stimulating cyclic AMP production in cells expressing CRF-R2α or β. Thus, the affinity is high enough that urocortin III could act as a native agonist of CRF-R2. However, it is also likely that urocortin III is a stronger agonist of a yet to be identified receptor.
US08445423B2	Chemical wipes Wipes treated with organometallic compounds used in combination with organic acids in kit form, particularly organophosphorus acid, are disclosed. The kits can be used to treat various surfaces to alter the physical properties of the surfaces.
US08445422B2	Liquid cleaning composition The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning composition comprising abrasive cleaning particles.
US08445419B2	Antimicrobial compositions for use on food products The present disclosure relates to methods of treating food products by applying an antimicrobial composition and processing the food product using selected processing methods.
US08445418B2	Lubricating oil composition for internal combustion engine A lubricating oil composition for an internal combustion engine contains: a base oil having a viscosity index of 120 or more; and a polymer compound that includes a first constituent having a mass average molecular weight of less than 100,000 and a second constituent having a mass average molecular weight of 100,000 or more, the first constituent of 0.01 mass % to 10 mass % being contained relative to a total amount of the lubricating oil composition, preferably 0.1 mass % to 10 mass %, the second constituent of less than 0.5 mass % being contained relative to the total amount of the lubricating oil composition. A viscosity index of the lubricating oil composition is 130 or more.
US08445414B2	Compositions and methods for controlling fluid loss Alkaline earth metal compounds may be fluid loss control (FLC) agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for fluid loss control pills, lost circulation material pills and kill pills in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The FLC agents may include, but not be limited to oxides and hydroxides of alkaline earth metal, and in one case magnesium oxide where the particle size of the magnesium oxide is between 1 nanometer to 0.4 millimeter. The FLC agent may alternatively be transition metal oxides and/or transition metal hydroxides. The FLC agent appears to associate with the VES micelles and together form a novel pseudo-filter cake quasi-crosslinked viscous fluid layer that limits further VES fluid flow into the porous media. The FLC agent solid particles may be added along with VES fluids. The pills may also contain internal breakers to reduce the viscosity thereof so that the components of the pill may be recovered.
US08445413B2	Linker for constructing mRNA-puromycin-protein conjugate The present invention provides a linker preferably used when constructing an mRNA/cDNA-puromycin-protein conjugate used in an in vitro virus method, and an mRNA/cDNA-puromycin-protein conjugate constructed using that linker. More specifically, the present invention provides a linker for ligating mRNA and puromycin or a puromycin-like compound to construct an mRNA/cDNA-puromycin-protein conjugate, the linker comprising a single-stranded RNA as a main backbone, and having, in this main backbone, a solid phase binding site for binding an mRNA-puromycin-protein conjugate to a solid phase site, and a pair of cleavage sites provided at locations surrounding the solid phase binding site; an mRNA-puromycin-protein conjugate constructed using this linker; an mRNA bead or an mRNA chip comprising this conjugate; a protein chip produced from this mRNA chip; and a diagnostic kit using the mRNA bead or the mRNA chip.
US08445411B2	Detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood with an automated scanning fluorescence microscope An automated, highly sensitive, specific and potentially quantitative detection method using an automated microscope for identifying and enumerating rare cancer cells in blood and other fluids.
US08445408B2	Pyrimidine derivatives and their use for controlling undesired plant growth Pyrimidine derivatives and their use for controlling undesired plant growth Compounds of the formula (I) and their use in the field of crop protection are described.
US08445407B2	Herbicidal tetrahydrophthalimides The present invention relates to tetrahydrophthalimides of formula I wherein the variables are defined according to the description, processes and intermediates for preparing the benzoxazinones of the formula I, compositions comprising them and their use as herbicides, i.e. for controlling harmful plants, and also a method for controlling unwanted vegetation which comprises allowing a herbicidal effective amount of at least one tetrahydrophthalimide of the formula I to act on plants, their seed and/or their habitat.
US08445405B2	Synergistic herbicidal compositions containing aminopyralid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and atrazine An herbicidal composition containing (a) aminopyralid and 2,4-D and (b) atrazine provides synergistic control of selected weeds in corn, sorghum, sugar cane and range and pasture.
US08445404B2	Method of synthesizing zirconium-loaded fibrous adsorbent materials having phosphoryl groups and removal of objectionable substances using the adsorbents A method of forming a zirconium-loaded fibrous adsorbent material having phosphoryl groups, the method including: grafting a reactive monomer having phosphoryl groups onto a polymeric substrate; and loading zirconium such that the zirconium-loaded fibrous adsorbent material has a zirconium content in an amount of 4.0 or 4.2 mmol/g.
US08445403B2	Oxidation catalyst for commercial vehicles comprising a diesel motor An oxidation catalyst is described for the exhaust gas purification of utility vehicles with diesel engines, which contains a substrate and a catalytically active coating of platinum, active aluminum oxide and aluminum-silicon mixed oxide. The two oxidic support materials, aluminum oxide and aluminum-silicon mixed oxide, are catalytically activated with platinum, the majority of platinum being present on the active aluminum oxide. The oxidation catalyst is distinguished by good NO oxidation rates together with a high poisoning resistance against sulfur compounds.
US08445401B2	Rutile-type titanium dioxide photocatalyst It has been demanded to produce titanium dioxide having an excellent photocatalytic activity and an excellent super-hydrophilic property by a simple procedure suitable for the production on an industrial scale. Rutile-type titanium dioxide having an excellent photocatalytic activity can be produced by carrying out the anodic oxidization of the surface of a base material comprising titanium or a titanium alloy by applying a voltage (e.g., a high voltage) or carrying out the anodic oxidation of the surface of the base material under high current density conditions. Further, a film is produced on the surface of the base material by the anodic oxidation technique by applying a voltage or the anodic oxidization technique under high current density conditions, and the film is subjected to heat treatment, thereby producing rutile-type titanium dioxide having excellent crystallinity.
US08445400B2	Glycerol-based solid acid catalysts useful for the esterification of fatty acids, a process and use thereof The present invention provides a novel glycerol-based heterogeneous solid acid catalyst by simultaneous partial carbonization and sulfonation of crude glycerol obtained as a by-product during the biodiesel process. Solid acid catalyst with similar activity is also prepared from glycerol pitch (by-product of fat splitting) and technical grade glycerol. These glycerol-based solid acid catalysts are employed for esterification of fatty acids and fatty acid present in the high and low free fatty acid (FFA) containing vegetable oils like rice bran, karanja and jatropha; fatty acid distillate; deodorizer distillate and acid oil which are being used as raw materials for the preparation of biodiesel. These catalysts are highly active, reusable and simplify the biodiesel process particularly for fatty acids or high FFA containing vegetable oils by replacing the traditional homogeneous mineral acid catalysts.
US08445398B2	Ion exchange process for making molecular sieve composition This disclosure relates to a process for preparing a catalyst composition comprising (a) contacting a molecular sieve composition with a solution of a solvent and a solute under ion-exchange conditions to form an exchanged molecular sieve composition, wherein the solute comprises at least one of an amide compound, an imide compound, a strong proton donor, or any combination thereof, the solute has a solubility in the solvent of at least 0.05 g per 100 grams of the solvent, preferably at least 1 gram per 100 grams of the solvent; and (b) separating the exchanged molecular sieve from the mixture of the step (a).
US08445394B2	Intermediate thermal expansion coefficient glass Aluminoborosilicate glasses which may be useful in photovoltaic, photochromic, electrochromic, or Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) lighting applications are described.
US08445390B1	Patterning of antistiction films for electromechanical systems devices A laser absorption layer is first selectively formed in a seal pattern region surrounding an array of electromechanical systems elements, followed by depositing an antistiction layer as a blanket layer over the substrate and the laser absorption layer. The antistiction layer is then selectively removed from the seal pattern using a laser. An epoxy sealing material is provided in the seal pattern where the antistiction layer was removed and a backplate is sealed to the substrate using epoxy.
US08445387B2	Epitaxial silicon growth Memory cell structures, including PSOIs, NANDs, NORs, FinFETs, etc., and methods of fabrication have been described that include a method of epitaxial silicon growth. The method includes providing a silicon layer on a substrate. A dielectric layer is provided on the silicon layer. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer to expose the silicon layer, the trench having trench walls in the <100> direction. The method includes epitaxially growing silicon between trench walls formed in the dielectric layer.
US08445385B2	Methods for etching carbon nano-tube films for use in non-volatile memories Memory cells, and methods of forming such memory cells are provided that include a steering element coupled to a carbon-based reversible resistivity-switching material. In particular embodiments, methods in accordance with this invention etch a carbon nano-tube (“CNT”) film formed over a substrate, the methods including coating the substrate with a masking layer, patterning the masking layer, and etching the CNT film through the patterned masking layer using a non-oxygen based chemistry. Other aspects are also described.
US08445384B2	High density six transistor FinFET SRAM cell layout Dual orientation of finFET transistors in a static random access memory (SRAM) cell allows aggressive scaling to a minimum feature size of 15 nm and smaller using currently known masking techniques that provide good manufacturing yield. A preferred layout and embodiment features inverters formed from adjacent, parallel finFETs with a shared gate and different conductivity types developed through a double sidewall image transfer process while the preferred dimensions of the inverter finFETs and the pass transistors allow critical dimensions of all transistors to be sufficiently uniform despite the dual transistor orientation of the SRAM cell layout.
US08445383B2	Transparent nanocrystalline diamond contacts to wide bandgap semiconductor devices A heterojunction between thin films of NCD and 4H—SiC was developed. Undoped and B-doped NCDs were deposited on both n− and p− SiC epilayers. I-V measurements on p+ NCD/n− SiC indicated Schottky rectifying behavior with a turn-on voltage of around 0.2 V. The current increased over eight orders of magnitude with an ideality factor of 1.17 at 30° C. Ideal energy-band diagrams suggested a possible conduction mechanism for electron transport from the SiC conduction band to either the valence band or acceptor level of the NCD film.
US08445375B2	Method for manufacturing a semiconductor component A semiconductor component and methods for manufacturing the semiconductor component that includes a double exposure of a layer of photoresist or the use of multiple layers of photoresist. A metallization structure is formed on a layer of electrically conductive material that is disposed on a substrate and a layer of photoresist is formed on the metallization structure. The layer of photoresist is exposed to light and developed to remove a portion of the photoresist layer, thereby forming an opening. Then, a larger portion of the photoresist layer is exposed to light and an electrically conductive interconnect is formed in the opening. The larger portion of the photoresist layer that was exposed to light is developed to expose edges of the electrically conductive interconnect and portions of the metallization structure. A protection layer is formed on the top and edges of the electrically conductive interconnect and on the exposed portions of the metallization structure.
US08445365B2	Single scan irradiation for crystallization of thin films A method of processing a polycrystalline film on a substrate includes generating laser pulses, directing the laser pulses through a mask to generate patterned laser beams, each having a length l′, a width w′, and a spacing between adjacent beams d′; irradiating a region of the film with the patterned beams, said beams having an intensity sufficient to melt and to induce crystallization of the irradiated portion of the film, wherein the film region is irradiated n times; and after irradiation of each film portion, translating the film and/or the mask, in the x- and y-directions. The distance of translation in the y-direction is about l′/n−δ, where δ is a value selected to overlap the beamlets from one irradiation step to the next. The distance of translation in the x-direction is selected such that the film is moved a distance of about λ′ after n irradiations, where λ′=w′+d′.
US08445360B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device makes it possible to efficiently polish with a polishing tape a peripheral portion of a silicon substrate under polishing conditions particularly suited for a deposited film and for silicon underlying the deposited film. The method includes pressing a first polishing tape against a peripheral portion of a device substrate having a deposited film on a silicon surface while rotating the device substrate at a first rotational speed, thereby removing the deposited film lying in the peripheral portion of the device substrate and exposing the underlying silicon. A second polishing tape is pressed against the exposed silicon lying in the peripheral portion of the device substrate while rotating the device substrate at a second rotational speed, thereby polishing the silicon to a predetermined depth.
US08445359B2	Manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of semiconductor device To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device using an SOI substrate, by which mobility can be improved. A plurality of semiconductor films formed using a plurality of bond substrates (semiconductor substrates) are bonded to one base substrate (support substrate). At least one of the plurality of bond substrates has a crystal plane orientation different from that of the other bond substrates. Accordingly, at least one of the plurality of semiconductor films formed over one base substrate has a crystal plane orientation different from that of the other semiconductor films. The crystal plane orientation of the semiconductor film is determined in accordance with the polarity of a semiconductor element formed using the semiconductor film. For example, an n-channel element in which electrons are majority carriers is formed using a semiconductor film having a face {100}, and a p-channel element in which holes are majority carriers is formed using a semiconductor film having a face {110}.
US08445355B2	Metal-insulator-metal capacitors with high capacitance density Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and methods for fabricating MIM capacitors. The MIM capacitor includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer with apertures each bounded by a plurality of sidewalls and each extending from the top surface of the ILD layer into the first interlayer dielectric layer. A layer stack, which is disposed on the sidewalls of the apertures and the top surface of the ILD layer, includes a bottom conductive electrode, a top conductive electrode, and a capacitor dielectric between the bottom and top conductive electrodes.
US08445352B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device A problem in the conventional technique is that metal contamination on a silicon carbide surface is not sufficiently removed in a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device using a monocrystalline silicon carbide substrate. Accordingly, there is a high possibility that the initial characteristics of a manufactured silicon carbide semiconductor device are deteriorated and the yield rate is decreased. Further, it is conceivable that the metal contamination has an adverse affect even on the long-term reliability of a semiconductor device. In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device using a monocrystalline silicon carbide substrate, there is applied a metal contamination removal process, on a silicon carbide surface, including a step of oxidizing the silicon carbide surface and a step of removing a film primarily including silicon dioxide formed on the silicon carbide surface by the step.
US08445348B1	Manufacturing method of a semiconductor component with a nanowire channel The present invention discloses a manufacturing method of a semiconductor component with a nanowire channel. The method comprises the following steps. The step of forming a stack structure on a substrate is performed. A semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate and the stack structure and further filled into the fillister. The semiconductor layer is patterned to form a source area and a drain area, and the channel region is located between the source area and the drain area. The semiconductor layer located outside the source area, the drain area and the fillister will be removed. And then, the stack structure is then removed. Therefore, the semiconductor layer filled inside the fillister will be exposed to be as a channel. A gate oxide layer is formed to cover the channel, and a gate layer is then formed on the gate oxide layer.
US08445347B2	3D vertical NAND and method of making thereof by front and back side processing Monolithic three dimensional NAND strings and methods of making. The method includes both front side and back side processing. Using the combination of front side and back side processing, a NAND string can be formed that includes an air gap between the floating gates in the NAND string. The NAND string may be formed with a single vertical channel. Alternatively, the NAND string may have a U shape with two vertical channels connected with a horizontal channel.
US08445346B2	Method of reducing wordline shorting A method of fabricating a memory device includes providing a substrate having an insulating layer, forming first, second, and third conductive layers on the insulating layer, forming a mask on the third conductive layer, etching through the third conductive layer and a first portion thickness of the second conductive layer using the mask to provide an etched sidewall portions of the third conductive layer and an etched upper surface of the second polysilicon layer, and forming a liner layer along the etched sidewall portions and the etched upper surface.
US08445341B2	Semiconductor device and fabrication method for the same A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a nitride based compound semiconductor layer placed on the substrate; an active area which is placed on the nitride based compound semiconductor layer, and is composed of an aluminum gallium nitride layer (AlxGa1-xN) (where 0.1<=x<=1); an isolation region which performs isolation of the active area mutually; a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode which have been placed on the active area surrounded by the isolation region; and a trench region formed by etching for a part of the active area under the gate electrode. The semiconductor device is highly reliable, high performance and high power and a fabrication method for the same is also provided.
US08445338B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which a transistor including an active layer, a gate insulating film in contact with the active layer, and a gate electrode overlapping the active layer with the gate insulating film therebetween is provided; an impurity is added to a part of a first region overlapped with the gate electrode with the gate insulating film therebetween in the active layer and a second region but the first region in the active layer by adding the impurity to the active layer from one oblique direction; and the second region is situated in the one direction relative to the first region.
US08445337B2	Generation of multiple diameter nanowire field effect transistors A method of modifying a wafer having semiconductor disposed on an insulator is provided and includes establishing first and second regions of the wafer with different initial semiconductor thicknesses, forming pairs of semiconductor pads connected via respective nanowire channels at each of the first and second regions and reshaping the nanowire channels into nanowires each having a respective differing thickness reflective of the different initial semiconductor thicknesses at each of the first and second regions.
US08445334B1	SOI FinFET with recessed merged Fins and liner for enhanced stress coupling FinFETS and methods for making FinFETs with a recessed stress liner. A method includes providing an SOI substrate with fins, forming a gate over the fins, forming an off-set spacer on the gate, epitaxially growing a film to merge the fins, depositing a dummy spacer around the gate, and recessing the merged epi film. Silicide is then formed on the recessed merged epi film followed by deposition of a stress liner film over the FinFET. By using a recessed merged epi process, a MOSFET with a vertical silicide (i.e. perpendicular to the substrate) can be formed. The perpendicular silicide improves spreading resistance.
US08445332B2	Single crystal silicon rod fabrication methods and a single crystal silicon rod structure A method of fabricating a single crystal silicon rod may include forming an insulation layer on a substrate, forming a hole in the insulation layer, selectively growing silicon in the hole, forming a silicon layer on the hole and on the insulation layer, forming a rod pattern on the silicon layer in a direction that is non-radial with respect to the hole, and melting the silicon layer and crystallizing the silicon layer by illuminating a laser beam on the silicon layer where the rod pattern is formed to generate a nucleation site at a position corresponding to the hole. According to the method, a single crystal silicon rod having no defects may be formed.
US08445330B2	Interconnects for packaged semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing such devices Packaged semiconductor devices and assemblies including interconnects and methods for forming such interconnects are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a packaged semiconductor assembly includes a die attached to a support layer. A plurality of interconnects are embedded in and project from the support layer, such that the support layer at least partially retains the interconnects in a predetermined array. An encapsulant is molded around each of the interconnects and encases at least a portion of the die, support layer and interconnects.
US08445329B2	Circuit board with oval micro via Various circuit boards and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first interconnect layer of a circuit board. The first interconnect layer includes a first conductor structure. A first via is formed in the first interconnect layer and in electrical contact with the first conductor structure. The first via has a first oval footprint.
US08445320B2	Graphene channel-based devices and methods for fabrication thereof Graphene-channel based devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes a first wafer having at least one graphene channel formed on a first substrate, a first oxide layer surrounding the graphene channel and source and drain contacts to the graphene channel that extend through the first oxide layer; and a second wafer having a CMOS device layer formed in a second substrate, a second oxide layer surrounding the CMOS device layer and a plurality of contacts to the CMOS device layer that extend through the second oxide layer, the wafers being bonded together by way of an oxide-to-oxide bond between the oxide layers. One or more of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are in contact with the source and drain contacts. One or more other of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are gate contacts for the graphene channel.
US08445318B2	Phase change memory devices including phase change layer formed by selective growth methods and methods of manufacturing the same A phase change memory device including a phase change layer includes a storage node and a switching device. The switching device is connected to the storage node. The storage node includes a phase change layer selectively grown directly on a lower electrode. In a method of manufacturing a phase change memory device, an insulating interlayer is formed on a semiconductor substrate to cover a switching device. A lower electrode connected to the switching device is formed, and a phase change layer is selectively grown directly on the lower electrode.
US08445313B2	Method for forming a self-aligned bit line for PCRAM and self-aligned etch back process A method of forming bit line aligned to a phase change material that includes forming a pedestal of a sacrificial material on a portion of a lower electrode and forming at least one dielectric material adjacent to the sacrificial material, wherein the at least one dielectric material has an upper surface substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the pedestal of the sacrificial material. The pedestal of the sacrificial material is removed selective to the at least one dielectric material and the lower electrode to provide an opening to an exposed surface of the lower electrode. A phase change material is formed on the exposed surface of the lower electrode, and the opening is filled with a conductive fill material. A self-aligned etch back process is also provided.
US08445309B2	Anti-reflective photovoltaic module A method of forming an anti-reflective surface for photovoltaic modules. A photovoltaic module including a surface configured to be illuminated is provided. The surface is contacted with an etchant, thereby modifying a portion of the surface to alter the index of refraction.
US08445304B2	Semi-conductor sensor fabrication Methods of fabricating semiconductor sensor devices include steps of fabricating a hermetically sealed MEMS cavity enclosing a MEMS sensor, while forming conductive vias through the device. The devices include a first semi-conductor layer defining at least one conductive via lined with an insulator and having a lower insulating surface; a central dielectric layer above the first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer in contact with the at least one conductive via, and which defines a MEMS cavity; a third semiconductor layer disposed above the second semiconductor layer, and which includes a sensor element aligned with the MEMS cavity; a cap bonded to the third semiconductor to enclose and hermetically seal the MEMS cavity; wherein the third semiconductor layer separates the cap and the second semiconductor layer.
US08445301B2	Thin-film transistor substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and display device including the same Provided are a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a display device including the same. The TFT substrate includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor pattern formed on the gate insulating layer, a source electrode formed on the oxide semiconductor pattern, a drain electrode formed on the oxide semiconductor pattern to face the source electrode, and a pixel electrode formed on the gate insulating layer.
US08445300B2	Method of fabricating display device using plastic substrate Disclosed is a method of fabricating a display device that includes: forming an adhesive layer of an inorganic material on a carrier substrate having a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area; forming a plurality of adhesive patterns of a metallic material on the adhesive layer, each of the plurality of adhesive patterns having a width and a height; forming a plastic substrate on the adhesive layer and the plurality of adhesive patterns; forming a plurality of elements for displaying images on the plastic substrate; cutting the carrier substrate and the plastic substrate to divide the display area and the non-display area; and detaching the carrier substrate from the plastic substrate.
US08445297B2	Method of fabricating a chip A method of fabricating a chip may include the step of providing a first electrical part. The method may also include the step of forming a shell with the first electrical part embedded in a first side portion of the shell and a cavity in a second side portion of the shell. The method may include the step of testing the embedded first electrical part to determine whether the first electrical part is defective or functional. The method may also include the steps of providing a second electrical part, inserting the second electrical part within the cavity of the shell second side portion, establishing electrical communication between the first and second electrical parts if a test result of the first electrical part indicates that the first electrical part is functional, and finishing the chip. Also, the method may include the step of rejecting the first electrical part if the test result of the first electrical part indicates that the first electrical part is defective.
US08445293B2	Method to increase specificity and/or accuracy of lateral flow immunoassays The present invention includes methods and devices for preventing interfering substances from affecting the accuracy of a lateral flow immunoassay. In preferred embodiments, a test strip includes a capturing zone that includes at least one mobile capturing reagent that separates at least one interfering substance from the analyte. The capturing zone is preferably located upstream of the sample application zone. In some embodiments, the reagent/conjugate zone is also located upstream of the sample application zone. The capturing zone may be located upstream, downstream, or overlapping with the reagent/conjugate zone in these embodiments. In other preferred embodiments, one or more mobile capturing reagents are included in the elution medium/running buffer. In yet other embodiments, the capturing reagent is incorporated into a sample collection device of a sample collection system, preferably separate from the chromatographic test strip. A lysis zone is also included in some preferred embodiments.
US08445291B2	Method for detecting target substance, and tag, DNA, vector, probe and detection kit for use therewith Provide is a method for detecting a target substance, which method can visualize the expression of the target substance at any time point while reducing influences on the functions of the target substance, can use fluorescent dyes having various excitation/emission wavelengths, and can achieve easy staining process. Also provided are a tag, a DNA, a vector, a probe and a detection kit suitable for use in the above-described detection method. Specifically, the method for detecting a target substance, comprises the steps of bringing into contact with each other (a) a tag comprising a polypeptide forming an α-helix structure, the tag bound to the target substance, and (b) a probe comprising a compound bound to a fluorescent dye; and measuring the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent dye. The binding of the tag α-helix structure to the probe compound induces a spectral change in the fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent dye.
US08445290B2	Temperature-adjusted analyte determination for biosensor systems A biosensor system determines analyte concentration from an output signal generated by an oxidation/reduction reaction of the analyte. The biosensor system adjusts a correlation for determining analyte concentrations from output signals at one temperature to determining analyte concentrations from output signals at other temperatures. The temperature-adjusted correlation between analyte concentrations and output signals at a reference temperature may be used to determine analyte concentrations from output signals at a sample temperature.
US08445288B2	Solid-phase detection of terminal monosaccharides cleaved from glycosylated substrates The present invention relates to a novel method for analysing carbohydrates. The invention is in particular useful in detecting a terminal monosaccharide which may be released from a glycosylated substrate for example using an exoglucosidase. After relase from the glycosylated substrate the terminal monosaccharide may be captured on a solid support, incubated with a boronate detection agent and detected by aid of the boronate detection agent. The methods of the invention are useful for a variety of purposes including sequencing of carbohydrates, wherein exoglycosidases with predetermined specificity are employed for the release.
US08445286B2	Flow cell for a flow cytometer system The flow cytometer system of the preferred embodiment includes a flow cell body that functions to contain, protect, and align the components of the flow cytometer system; a flow channel, coupled to the flow cell body, that functions to conduct and focus sample fluid through an interrogation zone; and a sample injection probe, removably coupled to the flow cell body, that functions to provide a uniform flow of sample fluid to the flow channel. The flow cytometer system is preferably designed for the flow cytometer field. The flow cytometer system, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.
US08445285B2	Liquid for ejection and method for ejecting bio-specimen A liquid for ejection includes a bio-specimen, and at least one kind of first compounds expressed by Formula (1), wherein, in Formula (1), m≧8, and 8≦n≦18.
US08445284B2	Fixative and staining solutions The formulations, systems, and methods disclosed herein permit automated preparation of specimens (e.g., biological specimens) for examination. The formulations can include a cytological fixative solution including Azure B, a surfactant, methanol, and ethylene glycol. The disclosed formulations, systems, and methods provide fast, efficient, and highly uniform specimen processing using minimal quantities of fluids. The methods include at least a fixing phase for fixing a specimen to a substrate such as a microscope slide, a staining phase for staining the specimen, and a rinsing phase for rinsing the specimen. One or more of the fixing, staining, and rinsing phases include one or more agitation phases for distributing reagents evenly and uniformly across the specimen. The systems can be implemented as a standalone device or as a component in a larger system for preparing and examining specimens.
US08445282B2	Means to culture cochineal insects in an artificial medium A method is provided for culturing cochineal insects. In accordance with the method, a medium is created (101-109) from a mixture comprising a plant or cactus additive and a polymeric material. The medium is then inoculated (111) with a species selected from the group consisting of the genus Dactylopius.
US08445280B2	Method for creating perfusable microvessel systems A method for creating networks of perfusable microvessels in vitro. Cells including cell types capable of sprouting are seeded 1300 into a channel in a matrix at to activate competency 1304 of the cells for sprouting as microvessels based on the seeding density. The matrix channel is perfused with medium to allow parent vessels to form and for viability 1324. The parent vessels and matrix are incubated and perfused to provide for sprouting of microvessels from parent vessels into the surrounding matrix 1328. The sprouting parent vessels are grown until network forms 1332.
US08445276B2	Device and method for growing and analyzing cells A device and method for analyzing cells includes a housing with a chamber, a barrier supported by a frame disposed within the chamber, and a plate arranged at a bottom surface of the housing interior of the chamber. The plate is adapted to receive and sustain cells and the barrier separates the plate into at least two contiguous separate areas. In some embodiments, a thin rubber strip is arranged at the bottom edge of the barrier, which facilitates control of the area in which each cell type is grown, the size of the gap between the cells, and helps prevents over growth of the two cell types on to each other.
US08445273B2	Stem cell aggregate suspension compositions and methods of differentiation thereof The present invention relates to methods for production of undifferentiated or differentiated embryonic stem cell aggregate suspension cultures from undifferentiated or differentiated embryonic stem cell single cell suspensions and methods of differentiation thereof.
US08445261B2	Apparatus for holding cells An apparatus for holding cells. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for incubating cells having a dynamically controlled environment in which the cells are grown, which are maintained in a desired condition and in which cells can be examined while the environment is dynamically controlled and maintained in the desired condition. The apparatus also comprises an imaging mechanism for automatically determining the state of an individual cell of the cells over time. The imaging mechanism is in communication with the incubating mechanism.
US08445260B2	Apparatus and method for maintaining and/or restoring viability of organs An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. In perfusion, organ perfusion pressure is preferably controlled in response to a sensor disposed in an end of tubing placed in the organ, by a pneumatically pressurized medical fluid reservoir, providing perfusion pressure fine tuning, overpressurization prevention and emergency flow cut-off. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. The medical fluid may be fed into the organ from an intermediary tank having a low pressure head to avoid organ overpressurization. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.
US08445259B2	Method and apparatus for treatmet of sludge An enhanced apparatus and a method for treating organic sludge is constructed such that the sludge is first dewatered with a first dewatering device; the dewatered sludge is passed through a thermal hydrolysis reactor to hydrolyze polymers contained in the dewatered sludge, the hydrolyzed sludge is passed through a digester to digest the hydrolyzed sludge anaerobically, the digested sludge is passed through a second dewatering device to dewater the anaerobically digested sludge to form dewatered cake, solution generated in dewatering with the second dewatering device is passed through a crystallization reactor to crystallize and the remove phosphorus and nitrogen in the solution, and the dewatered cake by the second dewatering device is passed through an incineration or high temperature melt processing apparatus to incinerate or melt the dewatered cake.
US08445255B2	Inoculants including Bacillus bacteria for inducing production of volatile organic compounds in plants Disclosed are inoculants that include Bacillus bacteria and induce production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a plant that has been treated with the inoculant.
US08445253B2	High performance nitrifying sludge for high ammonium concentration and low temperature wastewater treatment Compositions of bacteria which are effective for the nitrification of wastewater, particularly at low temperatures, are described. The compositions are comprised of 35 strains or populations of at least partially characterized isolated bacteria. These compositions may be used to treat wastewater contaminated with animal fecal waste and/or ammonia. In use, wastewater is contacted with the bacterial composition of the invention under aerobic conditions and for a period of time effective to oxidize ammonia therein.
US08445250B2	Feed supplement The present invention relates to a feed supplement comprising a phytase and a lipolytic enzyme, wherein said lipolytic enzyme has lipase activity at a pH in the range of about pH1.5 to about pH3.5.
US08445246B2	Flavin-binding glucose dehydrogenases A flavin-binding glucose dehydrogenase with a high substrate specificity for D-glucose. The flavin-binding glucose dehydrogenase which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Mucor. The flavin-binding glucose dehydrogenase has a low reactivity for maltose, D-galactose and D-xylose compared to its reactivity for D-glucose, and therefore is relatively unaffected by these saccharide compounds. The flavin-binding glucose dehydrogenase is also relatively unaffected by dissolved oxygen, and allows accurate measurement of glucose amounts even in the presence of saccharide compounds other than glucose in samples.
US08445243B2	Hexose-pentose cofermenting yeast having excellent xylose fermentability and method for highly efficiently producing ethanol using the same Genetic recombinant yeast expressing xylose reductase (XR), (wild-type or mutant) xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), and xylulokinase (XK) and a method for highly efficiently producing ethanol from xylose using the yeast are provided. Pichia stipitis-derived XR and (wild-type or modified-type) XDH genes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived XK gene were introduced via chromosomal integration. Thus, a genetic recombinant yeast having a high xylose fermentation rate, being capable of producing ethanol from xylose in high yields, and having high xylose fermentability in the presence of glucose, as well as a method using the recombinant yeast for highly efficiently producing ethanol from xylose or a saccharified solution from lignocellulose-based biomass are provided. Furthermore, a method for improving the xylose fermentability of the genetic recombinant yeast of the present invention via acclimatization treatment is also provided herein.
US08445241B2	Process for the preparation of L-amino acids This application discloses methods for the preparation of L-amino acids, which comprises fermentation of a desired L-amino acid-producing bacteria in which at least the tal gene is amplified. In some embodiments, genes of the biosynthesis pathway of the desired L-amino acid are additionally amplified.
US08445240B2	Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acid molecules derived from the gut of the termite R flavipes, recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a vector and an isolated heterologous nucleic acid molecule operably inserted therein, whereby, when transformed into an appropriate host cell system, the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is expressed as a polypeptide having an activity similar to that when expressed in the gut of the termite R. flavipes. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules can comprise more than one heterologous nucleic acid molecule such that more than one polypeptide may be expressed by the host system. The expressed polypeptides may be substantially purified, or used in a substantially unpurified form, to be admixed with a lignocellulose source to be converted to a fermentable product such as a sugar or a mixture of sugars. One aspect of the present disclosure, therefore, encompasses methods of converting a lignified plant material to a fermentable product, the method comprising obtaining a series of isolated polypeptides of a termite, wherein the series of polypeptides cooperate to convert a plant lignocellulose to a fermentable product; and incubating the series of polypeptides with a source of lignified plant material, under conditions allowing the polypeptides to cooperatively produce a fermentable product from the lignified plant material.
US08445238B2	Snap-back primers and detectable hairpin structures The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising snap-back primers used for forming 3′ hairpin structures, 5′ hairpin structures, and double hairpin structures. The hairpin structures may be used for detecting target sequences (e.g., such as small RNA target sequence), for detecting polymorphisms in target sequences (e.g., such as polymorphisms located near the 5′ or 3′ ends of the target sequence), or other nucleic acid characterization methods. In certain embodiments, the hairpin structures form invasive cleavage structures (e.g., in combination with a probe or upstream oligonucleotide) which may be cleaved by structure-specific enzymes in order to detect the presence or absence of a particular nucleotide or nucleotide sequence.
US08445237B2	RNA interference mediating small RNA molecules Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3′ ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.
US08445235B2	Process for the production of the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae toxins APXI or APXIII in a liquid culture medium under supply of air enriched in carbon dioxide The current invention pertains to a method to produce RTX-toxins ApxI or ApxIII by culturing Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae bacteria in a liquid culturing medium that supports growth of the bacteria, characterized in that air is passed through the medium, wherein the air has a carbon dioxide content above normal atmospheric level to increase RTX-toxin production during the production phase of the RTX-toxins.
US08445233B2	PGC-1β, a novel PGC-1 homologue and uses therefor The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated PGC-1β nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel PGC-1 related coactivator molecules. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing PGC-1β nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a PGC-1β gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated PGC-1β proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-PGC-1β antibodies. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US08445231B2	Cytochrome P450s and uses thereof The invention features isolated cytochrome P450 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules, as well as expression vectors and transgenic plants containing these molecules. In addition, the invention features uses of such molecules in methods of increasing the level of resistance against a disease caused by a plant pathogen in a transgenic plant, in methods for producing altered compounds, for example, hydroxylated compounds, and in methods of producing isoprenoid compounds.
US08445230B2	Immunosuppressive polypeptides and nucleic acids The invention provides immunosuppressive polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides mutant CTLA-4 polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding mutant CTLA-4 polypeptides. Compositions and methods for utilizing such polypeptides and nucleic acids are also provided.
US08445229B2	Methods of generating high-production of antibodies from hybridomas created by in vitro immunization The invention provides methods for generating high titers of high-affinity antibodies from hybridoma cells produced by fusing myeloma cells with in vitro immunized donor cells. The hybridoma cells or mammalian expression cells with cloned antibody genes from the hybridomas producing the high-affinity antibodies may be mismatch repair defective due to defects of endogenous mismatch repair subunits of through expression of a dominant negative allele of a mismatch repair gene which allows the hybridoma cell to be hypermutable, may be rendered hypermutable by chemical means, or may be naturally mismatch repair deficient. High-affinity antibodies and high titer producer cells producing antibodies may be prepared by the methods of the invention.
US08445225B2	Methods for the detection of circulating tumor cells The present invention provides methods for revealing, detecting, and analyzing circulating tumor cells in the blood of a subject. Revealing detectable circulating tumor cells allows for early stage detection and diagnosis in addition to long term prognosis in subjects with cancer. Additionally, enrichment allows for robust detection and clinically meaningful analysis of low volume samples for use in clinical settings as well as innovative methods for the treatment of cancers.
US08445223B2	Anionic acid-labile surfactants and methods of use Anionic acid-labile surfactants may generally comprise compounds represented by the formula: wherein R1 is independently selected from —(CH2)0-9CH3, R2 is selected from the group consisting of —H and —(CH2)0-5CH3, Y is an anion, X is a cation, and n is an integer from 1 to 8. Methods of making and using the anionic acid-labile surfactants are also described. The anionic acid-labile surfactants may be used to facilitate the solubilization of proteins and other molecules in an aqueous environment.
US08445222B2	Predicting heart failure following myocardial infarction by protease and protease inhibitor profiling Disclosed herein are methods of detecting or predicting diastolic heart failure in a subject, comprising identifying a profile of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) from a body fluid of the subject that is associated herein with the existence of likely development of left ventricular dilation (LVD).
US08445220B2	Methods of diagnosing latent and active malignancies Disclosed are procedures and methods for diagnosing latent and active cancers in a subject. The described methods include the use of sandwich ELISA assays containing antibodies specific for certain epitopes on the A-protein. This enables the assay to discriminate between the monomelic and homopolymeric forms of A-protein.
US08445216B2	Antibodies and immunotoxins that target human glycoprotein NMB The invention provides high affinity antibodies suitable for forming Immunotoxins that inhibit the growth of cells expressing human glycoprotein NMB, including glioblastoma multiform cells, anaplastic astrocytoma cells, anaplastic oligodendroglioma cells, oligodendroglioma cells, and melanoma cells.
US08445214B2	Preparation of micro-porous crystals and conjugates thereof A conjugate comprising a dye-labeled microporous crystal, a stop-cock moiety, and covalently bound thereto an affinity binding agent is disclosed. The dye-labeled microporous crystal is a zeolite crystal, such as a zeolite L crystal, having a large number of channels in its interior into which the dye is loaded. The stop-cock moiety can be functionalized with an amino group to which a carboxyester group can be attached. The affinity binding agent allows for the binding to a biological moiety. The conjugate of the moiety can be used in in-vivo and/or in-vitro imaging applications.
US08445213B2	Purified serum albumin, and immunological measurement method An object of the present invention is to provide: a purified serum albumin having less lot-to-lot variation; and an immunoassay method utilizing the purified serum albumin, in which high reactivity and less non-specific reactions are achieved.The present invention provides a purified serum albumin, which is a serum albumin used as a blocking agent and/or in a suspension containing an insoluble carrier in an immunoassay method, and is composed mostly of a fraction, the fraction having an absorbance of not exceeding 9.0 mAbs when measured in the form of 1% aqueous solution at a wavelength of 463 nm by using a quarts cell having an optical path length of 1.0 cm.
US08445212B2	Microfluidic structure for detecting biomolecule and microfluidic device comprising the same Disclosed are a micro-fluidic structure for detecting biomolecules and a micro-fluidic device having the same. More particularly, a target material including at least two cis-diols is detected by a first material containing a boronate moiety and a second material containing another boronate moiety while generating electrical signals.
US08445210B2	Microfabricated crossflow devices and methods A microfluidic device for analyzing and/or sorting biological materials (e.g., molecules such as polynucleotides and polypeptides, including proteins and enzymes; viruses and cells) and methods for its use are provided. The device and methods of the invention are useful for sorting particles, e.g. virions. The invention is also useful for high throughput screening, e.g. combinatorial screening. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and an inlet region in communication with the main channel at a droplet extrusion region. Droplets of solution containing the biological material are deposited into the main channel through the droplet extrusion region. A fluid different from and incompatible with the solution containing the biological material flows through the main channel so that the droplets containing the biological material do not diffuse or mix. Biological material within the droplets can be analyzed and/or sorted by detecting a predetermined characteristic of the biological sample in each droplet and sorting the droplet accordingly.
US08445209B2	Nucleic acid compositions and nucleic acid amplification based methods for detecting E. coli O157:H7 Disclosed are primer and probe compositions, PCR assays, methods and kits for the specific detection of E. coli O157:H7 and not E. coli O55:H7 from a variety of samples. In some embodiments, methods for specifically detecting E. coli O157:H7 comprise: hybridizing at least a first pair of polynucleotide primers to at least a first target polynucleotide sequence, hybridizing at least a second pair of polynucleotide primers to at least a second target polynucleotide sequence, amplifying said at least first and said at least second target polynucleotide sequences, and detecting said at least first and said at least second amplified target polynucleotide sequence products, wherein the detection of both the first amplified target polynucleotide sequence product and the second amplified target polynucleotide sequence product is indicative of the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in a sample and not E. coli O55:H7.
US08445204B2	Methods of identification of methylation of CpG The present invention relates to the materials and methods for the identification of methylated nucleotides in samples of genomic DNA. The present invention also relates to methods of diagnosis of specific conditions by identification of specific methylated nucleotides.
US08445200B2	Genotoxicity as a biomarker for inflammation The invention provides a method for detection of inflammatory disease in a subject that comprises assaying a test sample of peripheral blood from the subject for a marker of DNA damage. An elevated amount of marker present in the test sample compared to control sample is indicative of inflammatory disease activity, including sub-clinical inflammation. The method can be adapted for quantitatively monitoring the efficacy of treatment of inflammatory disease in a subject. Markers of DNA damage include single- and/or double-stranded breaks in leukocytes, oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes, or a marker of nitric oxide oxidative activity (protein nitrosylation in leukocytes). The inflammatory disease can be inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease). The invention may also be used for detection of other types of inflammatory disease, such as non-immune intestinal inflammatory disease (diverticulitis, pseudomembranous colitis), autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, uveitis, vasculitis), or non-immune lung diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, and interstitial pneumonitis). This unexpected discovery of markers of genotoxicity present in circulating leukocytes enables detection of inflammation occurring at a localized site with a relatively simple and minimally invasive assay using peripheral blood.
US08445197B2	Single molecule arrays for genetic and chemical analysis Random arrays of single molecules are provided for carrying out large scale analyses, particularly of biomolecules, such as genomic DNA, cDNAs, proteins, and the like. In one aspect, arrays of the invention comprise concatemers of DNA fragments that are randomly disposed on a regular array of discrete spaced apart regions, such that substantially all such regions contain no more than a single concatemer. Preferably, such regions have areas substantially less than 1 μm2 and have nearest neighbor distances that permit optical resolution of on the order of 109 single molecules per cm2. Many analytical chemistries can be applied to random arrays of the invention, including sequencing by hybridization chemistries, sequencing by synthesis chemistries, SNP detection chemistries, and the like, to greatly expand the scale and potential applications of such techniques.
US08445196B2	Single molecule arrays for genetic and chemical analysis Random arrays of single molecules are provided for carrying out large scale analyses, particularly of biomolecules, such as genomic DNA, cDNAs, proteins, and the like. In one aspect, arrays of the invention comprise concatemers of DNA fragments that are randomly disposed on a regular array of discrete spaced apart regions, such that substantially all such regions contain no more than a single concatemer. Preferably, such regions have areas substantially less than 1 μm2 and have nearest neighbor distances that permit optical resolution of on the order of 109 single molecules per cm2. Many analytical chemistries can be applied to random arrays of the invention, including sequencing by hybridization chemistries, sequencing by synthesis chemistries, SNP detection chemistries, and the like, to greatly expand the scale and potential applications of such techniques.
US08445189B2	Developing device and developing method The temperature of a developing solution is varied depending on the type of resist or the resist pattern. The developing solution is applied while scanning a developer nozzle having a slit-shaped ejection port that has a length matching the width of the effective area of the substrate. After leaving the substrate with the developing solution being coated thereon for a predetermined period of time, a diluent is supplied while scanning a diluent nozzle, thereby substantially stopping the development reaction and causing the dissolved resist components to diffuse. A desired amount of resist can be quickly dissolved through the control of the developing solution temperature, while the development can be stopped before the dissolved resist components exhibit adverse effect through the supply of the diluent a predetermined timing, whereby achieving a pattern having a uniform line width and improved throughput.
US08445183B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and pattern formation method A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: a first resist film formation process of forming a first resist film on a processing target surface using a positive-type photoresist material; a first resist pattern formation process of forming a first resist pattern by performing development after exposure in which light is irradiated onto the first resist film; a second resist film formation process of forming a second resist film on the processing target surface, where the first resist pattern is formed, using a photoresist material; and a second resist pattern formation process of forming a second resist pattern by performing exposure in which light is irradiated onto the second resist film and then performing development. The method further includes an insolubilization process for insolubilizing the first resist pattern against a developer and a solvent of a photoresist material used in the second resist pattern formation process.
US08445182B2	Double exposure technology using high etching selectivity Ultrafine patterns with dimensions smaller than the chemical and optical limits of lithography are formed by superimposing two photoresist patterns using a double exposure technique. Embodiments include forming a first resist pattern over a target layer to be patterned, forming a protective cover layer over the first resist pattern, forming a second resist pattern on the cover layer superimposed over the first resist pattern while the cover layer protects the first resist pattern, selectively etching the cover layer with high selectivity with respect to the first and second resist patterns leaving an ultrafine target pattern defined by the first and second resist patterns, and etching the underlying target layer using the superimposed first and second resist patterns as a mask.
US08445181B2	Antireflective coating composition and process thereof The invention related to an antireflective coating comprising a mixture of a first polymer and a second polymer, and a thermal acid generator, where the first polymer comprises at least one fluoroalcohol moiety, at least one aliphatic hydroxyl moiety, and at least one acid moiety other than fluoroalcohol with a pKa in the range of about 8 to about 11; where the second polymer is a reaction product of an aminoplast compound with a compound comprising at least one hydroxyl and/or at least one acid group. The invention further relates to a process for using the novel composition to form an image.
US08445180B2	Water-developable photopolymer plate for letterpress printing Disclosed is a method for producing a water-developable photopolymer plate for letterpress printing comprising an exposure step, a development step and a post-exposure step wherein the photopolymer plate is brought into contact with a liquid containing a modified silicone compound and/or a fluorine compound during or after the exposure step.
US08445164B2	Electrode containing nanostructured thin catalytic layers and method of making A method of making an electrode is provided. The method includes providing an electrocatalyst decal comprising a carrying substrate having a nanostructured thin catalytic layer thereon; providing a transfer substrate with an adjacent adhesive layer; adhering the nanostructured thin catalytic layer adjacent to the adhesive layer to form a composite structure; removing the carrying substrate from the composite structure; and removing the transfer substrate from the composite structure to form the stand-alone nanostructured thin catalytic film comprising the adhesive layer with the nanostructured thin catalytic layer adhered thereto. A stand alone nanostructured thin catalytic film and methods of constructing electrodes with the stand alone nanostructured thin catalytic films are also described.
US08445163B2	Membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell having catalyst layer with mesopore volume, method of preparing same, and fuel cell system including the same The membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode facing each other and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. The cathode includes an electrode substrate and a catalyst layer disposed on the electrode substrate, and the catalyst layer has a mesopore volume ranging from 0.013 to 0.04 cm3/g. The membrane-electrode assembly has low mass resistance and contributes to the overall increased performance of the fuel cell by having optimal pore volumes (e.g., mesopore volume) in a cathode catalyst layer to provide ease of transfer and release of materials within the membrane-electrode assembly of the fuel cell.
US08445161B2	Current collector plates of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys Collector plates made of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys, the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys providing ruggedness, lightweight structure, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost manufacturing, and methods of making such collector plates from such bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are provided.
US08445159B2	Sealed joint structure for electrochemical device Several members make up a joint in a high-temperature electrochemical device, wherein the various members perform different functions. The joint is useful for joining multiple cells (generally tubular modules) of an electrochemical device to produce a multi-cell segment-in-series stack for a solid oxide fuel cell, for instance. The joint includes sections that bond the joining members to each other; one or more seal sections that provide gas-tightness, and sections providing electrical connection and/or electrical insulation between the various joining members. A suitable joint configuration for an electrochemical device has a metal joint housing, a first porous electrode, a second porous electrode, separated from the first porous electrode by a solid electrolyte, and an insulating member disposed between the metal joint housing and the electrolyte and second electrode. One or more brazes structurally and electrically connects the first electrode to the metal joint housing and forms a gas tight seal between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08445157B2	Fuel cell stack components An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first set of gas flow channels in a first portion of the interconnect, and a second set of gas flow channels in second portion of the interconnect. The channels of the first set have a larger cross sectional area than the channels of the second set.
US08445155B2	Complex power generation system and method for supplying heated water thereof A complex power generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a fuel cell module having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger configured to generate a direct current by means of an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a first cycle configured to receive hot water in a first temperature range from the first heat exchanger to supply to a heat pump, and receive hot water in a second temperature range from the heat pump to supply to the first heat exchanger, and a second cycle configured to receive hot water in a third temperature range from the heat pump to discharge hot water in a fourth temperature range through the second heat exchanger, thereby enhancing a heating performance and increasing a thermal efficiency of the overall system.
US08445151B2	Fuel cell system and method for controlling the same A fuel cell system includes a replacing unit for replacing a gas remaining in the anode of the fuel cell with the anode gas supplied anew by the anode gas supply unit when starting up the fuel cell. The amount of the anode gas is set to be lower, if the operation condition determining unit determines that the last operation was performed in a low-temperature and short-time operation mode. The operation condition determining unit sets the amount of the anode gas so that the gas remaining in the anode can be replaced with the anode gas with an entire anode capacity if the anode was been scavenged while no electro-chemical reaction was progressing in the fuel cell. The present invention can set the amount of anode gas appropriately when starting up the fuel cell.
US08445147B2	Fuel humidifier assembly for use in high temperature fuel cell systems A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.
US08445145B2	Stack shutdown purge method A method of purging residual hydrogen from a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes providing an air stream, providing a temporary nitrogen stream by removing oxygen from the air stream with an adsorbent bed and passing the nitrogen stream through the fuel cell stack.
US08445144B2	Additive for an electrolyte solution for an electrochemical device There is provided a lithium secondary battery which has excellent characteristics such as energy density and electromotive force and is excellent in cycle life and storage stability. An electrolyte solution for secondary battery comprising at least an aprotic solvent having an electrolyte dissolved therein and a compound represented by the general formula (1).
US08445142B2	Organic electrolytic solution and lithium battery employing the same An organic electrolytic solution including a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and a compound represented by the formula and a lithium battery employing the organic electrolytic solution. Groups Z1 and Z2 are each, independently, a cyano group, an isocyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted dicyanoethylphosphino group, or a substituted or unsubstituted dialkoxyphosphoryloxy group. Groups R1 through R4 are described fully in the Description. The organic electrolyte solution inhibits decomposition of an electrolytic solution and elution or precipitation of metal ions, and thus the lithium battery including the organic electrolytic solution has excellent cycle characteristics and lifetime characteristics.
US08445141B2	Sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, method for producing the same, resin composition containing such sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, polymer electrolyte membrane, polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly, and fuel cell The present invention relates to a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer excellent in ion conductivity and durability, a method for producing the same, a resin composition containing the sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The sulfonic acid group-containing polymer of the present invention, in a first embodiment, includes a constituent represented by the following chemical formula 1: wherein X represents hydrogen or a monovalent cation species; Y represents a sulfone group or a ketone group; and n represents an arbitrary integer not less than 2.
US08445139B2	Bipolar electrode batteries and methods of manufacturing bipolar electrode batteries The disclosure relates to bipolar cells including electrodes surrounding a collector. Embodiments of the bipolar cells include a collector containing a high-polymer material. The disclosure also relates to bipolar electrode batteries containing bipolar cells including a collector body containing electrically conductive high-polymer or electrically conductive particles distributed in a high-polymer. By adding such high molecular weight polymer material to the collector, the weight of the collector may be reduced and the output power density per weight of the battery may be improved. The disclosure further relates to methods of forming collecting bodies and electrodes for bipolar cells using an inkjet printing method. Bipolar cells according to the present invention may be used to fabricate batteries such as lithium ion batteries, which may be connected to form battery modules used, for example, to provide electrical power for a motor vehicle.
US08445138B2	Lightweight, durable lead-acid batteries A lightweight, durable lead-acid battery is disclosed. Alternative electrode materials and configurations are used to reduce weight, to increase material utilization and to extend service life. The electrode can include a current collector having a buffer layer in contact with the current collector and an electrochemically active material in contact with the buffer layer. In one form, the buffer layer includes a carbide, and the current collector includes carbon fibers having the buffer layer. The buffer layer can include a carbide and/or a noble metal selected from of gold, silver, tantalum, platinum, palladium and rhodium. When the electrode is to be used in a lead-acid battery, the electrochemically active material is selected from metallic lead (for a negative electrode) or lead peroxide (for a positive electrode).
US08445126B2	Hazard mitigation within a battery pack using metal-air cells A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the thermal runaway of at least one non-metal-air cell of a plurality of non-metal-air cells is directed through one or more metal-air cells, the metal-air cells absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.
US08445125B2	Pouch type battery A pouch type battery, including a pouch type bare cell having a terrace and having an electrode tab adjacent to the terrace, the terrace being an empty space defined where a sealing area of the electrode tab is not bent, the sealing area positioned in a direction in which the electrode tab extends, a protective circuit board electrically connected to the electrode tab, the protective circuit board positioned in the terrace and including a protection circuit, an upper case supporting the protective circuit board and encasing an upper portion of the bare cell, and a first barrier protruding downwardly from the upper case and electrically separating the protective circuit board from the electrode tab.
US08445122B2	Data storage medium and associated method A data storage medium includes a carrier substrate having an electrode layer on the surface thereof and a sensitive material layer extending along the electrode layeradapted to be locally modified between two electrical states by the action of a localized electric field. A reference plane extends globally parallel to the sensitive material layer and is configured to accommodate at least one element for application of an electrostatic field in combination with the electrode layer the electrode layer including a plurality of conductive portions having a dimension at most equal to 100 nm in at least one direction parallel to the reference plane and separated by at least one electrically insulative zone, where at least some of the conductive portions are electrically interconnected, the conductive portions defining data write/read locations within the sensitive material layer.
US08445121B2	Light emitting element, light emitting device, and electronic device One feature of the present invention is to provide a buffer layer made of a composite material for a light emitting element including aromatic hydrocarbon containing at least one vinyl skeleton and metal oxide in part of a light emitting substance containing layer, in the light emitting element formed by interposing the light emitting substance containing layer between a pair of electrodes. The composite material for a light emitting element for forming the buffer layer of the present invention has high conductivity and is superior in transparency.
US08445119B2	Charge transport materials for luminescent applications There is provided a charge transport compound having Formula I: wherein: R1 through R5 are the same or different at each occurrence and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, halogen, hydroxyl, aryloxy, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, amino, alkylthio, phosphino, silyl, —COR, —COOR, —PO3R2, —OPO3R2, or CN; R6 can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, and arylalkyl; R is the same or different at each occurrence and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl; and n is an integer from 0-3.
US08445111B2	Gadolinium oxide-doped zirconium oxide overcoat and/or method of making the same Certain example embodiments relate to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer in a low-E coating. In certain examples, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2) doped with gadolinium and/or gadolinium oxide (e.g., Gd2O3 or other suitable stoichiometry). Providing a layer including Gd-doped zirconium oxide as the uppermost or overcoat layer of the coated article (e.g., over a silicon nitride based layer) advantageously results in improved durability, and chemical and heat stability in certain example embodiments. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, or in other suitable applications such as monolithic window applications, laminated windows, and/or the like.
US08445107B2	Multicomponent molding with polyester layers Process for production of multicomponent moldings, which comprises producing a molding of which at least one layer is composed of a thermoplastic molding composition composed of A) from 10 to 99.99% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polyester, B) from 0.01 to 50% by weight of B1) at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polycarbonate having an OH number of from 1 to 600 mg KOH/g of polycarbonate (to DIN 53240, Part 2), or B2) at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polyester of AxBy type, where x is at least 1.1 and y is at least 2.1, or a mixture of these, and C) from 0 to 60% by weight of other additives, where the total of the percentages by weight of components A) to C) is 100%.
US08445100B2	Polymeric structures comprising a sulfosuccinate Hydroxyl polymer-containing compositions, especially hydroxyl polymer-containing compositions that can be processed into polymeric structures, especially polymeric structures in the form of fibers are provided.
US08445099B2	Polyimide film The present invention is directed to a polyimide film with a uniform orientation angle in the transverse direction of the film. A polyimide film characterized by the fact that the width of the fabricated film is ≧1.5 m, 2 points positioned inside by 200 mm from both ends of the width of the fabricated film are selected on a linear line in the vertical direction to the machine direction (MD) of the film, 1 point within center part ±200 mm, and 2 optional points are further selected on a linear line that includes said 2 points within the range of the linear line that connects said 2 points, and the orientation angle (θ) is within a range of 90°±23° in at least all of these 8 points.
US08445090B2	Fixing belt Provided is a fixing belt which has high thermal conductivity capable of achieving an excellent fixing property that can respond to the recent increase in printing speed, which has a proper degree of elasticity such that color toners are sufficiently enveloped so as to be melted and mixed, and which has excellent mechanical strength and durability. A fixing belt includes a tubular base member, an elastic layer disposed on the outer circumferential side of the base member, and a surface layer disposed on a surface on the outer circumferential side of the elastic layer, the fixing belt being characterized in that the elastic layer is composed of rubber into which a filler primarily composed of silicon carbide powder and a carbon nanotube are compounded, and the formulae 10X+3Y<750, 3X+30Y>170, X>10, and Y>0.1 are satisfied, where X is the percent by volume of the filler and Y is the percent by volume of the carbon nanotube in the elastic layer.
US08445088B2	Green packaging A flexible food package includes a laminate body defining an internal compartment. The laminate body includes an inner layer and an outer layer that are coupled together. At least one of the inner layer and the outer layer includes green polyethylene having a percent modern carbon value of at least 30 percent.
US08445082B2	Printable substrates with improved brightness from OBAs in presence of multivalent metal salts An article in the form of a paper substrate having a first surface and a second surface; an internal paper sizing agent present in an amount sufficient to impart to the paper substrate an HST value of from about 50 to about 250 seconds; one or more optical brightening agents present in an amount below a “green over” effect excess but sufficient to impart an ISO Brightness value of at least about 92; and a metal salt drying agent mixture of multivalent and monovalent metal drying salts in a molar ratio of multivalent to monovalent cations of from about 3:1 to about 1:18 to provide a percent ink transferred (“IT %”) value equal to or less than about 65% and a black print density value of at least about 1.45. Also, a method for treating the optically brightened paper substrate with a mixture of multivalent and monovalent metal drying salts.
US08445071B2	Process for producing electrophotographic belt A process by which an electrophotographic belt having a protective layer more containing a filler on its surface side can be produced at a lower cost. The process is a process for producing an electrophotographic belt having a base layer and a surface layer, and has the steps of (1) forming on the base layer a wet coating of a surface layer forming coating liquid in which a filler has been dispersed and a binder resin stands dissolved; (2) making water adhere to the surface of the wet coating; and (3) drying the wet coating to form the surface layer. The filler is a filler the affinity of which for the water is higher than the affinity the filler has for a dispersion medium of the filler in the coating-liquid.
US08445066B2	Systems and methods for making monolithic gel bodies Systems and methods for making a monolithic gel body. Some systems can include a substrate, a sol, an ammonia atmosphere. Some methods can include applying a first quantity of the sol to the substrate to form a first coated substrate, and positioning the first coated substrate in the ammonia atmosphere to cure the first quantity of sol to form a first supported gel comprising a first gel supported by the substrate. Such methods can further include applying a second quantity of the sol to the first supported gel to form a second coated substrate comprising the second quantity of sol and the first supported gel. Some methods can include positioning the substrate in the ammonia atmosphere while applying the sol onto the substrate to form a monolithic gel body by a layering process.
US08445060B2	Process and apparatus for manufacturing decorative papers and/or panels for flooring or surfacing of furniture, walls, etc A process for manufacturing decorative papers and/or panels for flooring or surfacing of furniture, wall, finish foils, filter papers or kraft papers for low and high pressure use etc., in which a substantially dry solid composition is prepared in powder form, having a polymer component containing aminopiasts (amino resins) and/or phenoplasts (phenolic resins) and/or mixtures in powder form, used as such and/or mixed with additives; the composition is then applied dry on a support in powder form and is heated after being deposited onto the support to melt the composition and form a coating polymer layer onto the support; the composition may instead be heated first to be molten before and then applied in a fluid form onto the support.
US08445059B2	Accelerated aging of phosphorus-doped optical fibers Adverse hydrogen aging limitations in multiply-doped optical fibers are overcome by passivating these optical fibers using a deuterium passivation process. This treatment essentially pre-reacts the glass with deuterium so that the most active glass sites are no longer available to react with hydrogen in service. Optical fibers of main interest are doped with mixtures of germanium and phosphorus. Optimum passivating process conditions are described.
US08445056B2	Method for manufacturing field emission cathode A method for manufacturing a field emission cathode is provided. A carbon nanotube array formed on a substrate in a container and a prepolymer are provided. The prepolymer is put into the container settled for a period of over 30 minutes to fill in clearances of the carbon nanotube array, and part of the prepolymer is covering a top end of the carbon nanotube array. The carbon nanotube array is rotated at a speed to push the part of the prepolymer into the clearances of the carbon nanotube array and a prepolymer film in the carbon nanotube array is obtained. The prepolymer film is then polymerized to form a polymer film.
US08445055B2	Method for the fabrication of composite palladium and palladium-alloy membranes The invention relates to a method for the fabrication of composite palladium or palladium alloy membranes. The surface of the porous ceramic substrate is modified with pencil to create a uniform and smooth layer, and the membrane is deposited via electroless plating. The advantages of the pencil modification are a reduction of the substrate surface roughness and a repair of substrate surface defects, which leads to a great improvement in the membrane uniformity and hydrogen permeation performances. This method is facile and economic, and it is especially effective on low-cost macroporous ceramic substrate materials. Furthermore, this method generates almost no pollution and therefore is environmentally benign.
US08445048B2	Process of manufacturing rapid reconstitution root vegetable products The invention relates to a method for producing vegetable products from blanched vegetables, comprising: par frying the blanched vegetables at a par frying temperature and next applying heat and humidity for drying the vegetables.
US08445046B2	Method for packaging crabmeat A method for packaging crabmeat including the steps of providing a flexible pouch, placing a volume of crabmeat into the flexible pouch, controlling a volume of ambient air in the flexible pouch to obtain an ambient air to crabmeat ratio within the flexible pouch of about 13-20% by volume, sealing the flexible pouch to maintain the ambient air to crabmeat ratio within the flexible pouch, and pasteurizing the flexible pouch.
US08445043B2	Multi-temperature and multi-texture frozen food microwave heating tray A multi-temperature and multi-texture frozen food microwave heating tray includes a first integral compartment defined by at least one sidewall and an upwardly convex bottom, and a second integral compartment defined by at least one sidewall and a bottom and comprising a microwave energy access modulating structure for one of the first and second compartments.
US08445042B2	Xanthan gum production from sugarcane fluids Disclosed herein is a method of making xanthan gum by inoculating sugarcane fluid with a bacterium that can synthesize xanthan gum, such as a bacterium of the genus Xanthomonas.
US08445037B2	Volatile distillate by-product of mint oil that promotes absorption and/or bioavailability of compounds of bio-medical and nutritional interest Disclosed is an adjuvant for improving the bioavailability of bioactive compositions. The adjuvant is prepared from a byproduct of mint flavor production. In vitro and in vivo testing confirms effectiveness. The adjuvant contains a mixture of compounds which is effective to improve the oral bioavailability of a bioactive composition normally having limited absorptivity, and it comprises a mixture of nonpolar compounds and compounds with some polar characteristics. In preferred form the nonpolar compounds comprise compounds selected from a group that includes terpene hydrocarbons and terpene derivatives and the compounds with some polar characteristics comprise compounds selected from a group that includes aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. The preferred compositions will have a ratio of nonpolar compounds and compounds with some polar characteristics is within the range of from 5:1 to 20:1. The adjuvants can enhance delivery of CoQ10 and other bioactive compositions, such as carotenoids (e.g., β-carotene), curcuminoids, lycopene, resveratrol, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds, organosulfur compounds, saponins, sterols, stanols, and mixtures of at least two of these, to the interior cellular environment, including organelles, such as the mitochondria.
US08445033B2	Formulation for prevention and treatment of bacterial infections and preparation thereof The invention provides a formulation for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections by administering an effective amount of the formulation comprising an extract of at least one plant selected from Allium sativum, Acorus calamus, Alstonia scholaris, Carissa spinarum, Cissampelos pareria, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Moringa olifera, Paederia foetida, Shorea robusta, Piper nigrum, Pueraria tuberosa, Ocimum sanctum, Terminalia bellirica, Tinospora cordifolia and Zingiber officinale, and a combination thereof. The invention also provides a process for preparing and method of using the same.
US08445031B2	Method for producing purified tea extract A purified tea extract is improved in taste by reducing a percentage of gallates in the non-polymer catechins. A process according to the present invention for the production of a purified tea extract includes subjecting a tea extract to a hydrolysis treatment, causing the tea extract to adsorb on the activated carbon, and then bringing a basic aqueous solution or an aqueous solution of an organic solvent into contact with the activated carbon to elute the non-polymer catechins.
US08445030B2	Persistent and fast acting antiseptics and disinfectants based on calcium fluoride Antiseptic compounds that act as persistent and fast acting antiseptics and disinfectants. The base of these antiseptic actions is CaF2 as the persistent part, preventing the colonization of tissue and nonliving surfaces with microorganisms through the targeted on-demand release of fluorine ions. For fighting heavy contamination and invasion of transient microbes through new application of the solution, fast acting alcohols and toxic solutions have been added in small percentage. They act fast and evaporate fast, leaving the natural protection of skin undamaged and coated with a persistent antiseptic.
US08445029B2	Plasma-adapted full electrolyte solution The present invention describes a balanced aqueous electrolyte solution. In particular, a balanced aqueous electrolyte solution that is particularly suitable as a solution for intravenous and subcutaneous infusion because of its being plasma-adapted is described. In addition to the balanced electrolyte solution itself, an electrolyte mixture as well as a process for preparing the balanced electrolyte solution from this mixture, and a medicament comprising the solution and optionally an active ingredient are provided.
US08445027B2	Oil-in-oil emulsified polymeric implants containing a hypotensive lipid and prostamide Biocompatible intraocular implants, such as microparticles, include a prostamide component and a biodegradable polymer that is effective in facilitating release of the prostamide component into an eye for an extended period of time. The prostamide component may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. Or, the prostamide component may be encapsulated by the polymeric component. The present implants include oil-in-oil emulsified implants or microparticles. Methods of producing the present implants are also described. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat or reduce at least one symptom of an ocular condition, such as glaucoma.
US08445023B2	Anti-misuse microparticulate oral pharmaceutical form The present invention relates to solid microparticulate oral pharmaceutical forms whose composition and structure make it possible to avoid misuse of the pharmaceutical active principle (AP) they contain.The object of the present invention is to prevent solid oral drugs from being misappropriated for any use other than the therapeutic use(s) officially approved by the competent public health authorities. In other words, the object is to avoid the voluntary or involuntary misuse of solid oral drugs.The invention relates to a solid oral pharmaceutical form which is characterized in that it contains anti-misuse means, in that at least part of the AP it comprises is contained in coated microparticles for modified release of the AP, and in that the coated microparticles of AP have a coating layer (Ra) which assures the modified release of the AP and simultaneously imparts crushing resistance to the coated microparticles of AP so as to avoid misuse.
US08445021B2	Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and methods of use thereof The present disclosure provides compositions comprising 2-deoxyglucose-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. The compositions are useful in various applications, which are also provided.
US08445015B2	Extended-release formulation for reducing the frequency of urination and method of use thereof Methods and compositions for reducing the frequency of urination are disclosed. One method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent formulated in an extended-release formulation. Another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising multiple active ingredients formulated for extended-release. Yet another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a diuretic followed with another administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent formulated for extended-release.
US08445014B2	Ion binding compositions The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ion imbalances. In particular, the invention provides core-shell compositions and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods of use of the core-shell compositions for therapeutic and/or prophylactic benefits are disclosed herein. Examples of these methods include the treatment of phosphate imbalance disorders, hypertension, chronic heart failure, end stage renal disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal insufficiency, fluid overload, or sodium overload.
US08445013B2	Stable pharmaceutical composition and methods of using same The present invention relates to, inter alia, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid and to methods of using the same to treat or prevent cardiovascular-related diseases.
US08445012B2	Compositions and methods for delivery of embolics Described herein are compositions comprising one or more embolics attached to an inert, dissolvable matrix as well as kits comprising these novel embolic formulations. Also described are methods of making and using these embolic formulations.
US08445011B2	Delayed-release formulation for reducing the frequency of urination and method of use thereof Methods and compositions for reducing the frequency of urination are disclosed. One method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent formulated in a delayed-release formulation. Another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising multiple active ingredients. Yet another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a diuretic followed with another administration of an pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent.
US08445006B2	Biomolecular coating for implants Methods and compositions are provided for improving tissue growth and device integration in vivo. Substrates and devices coated with an α2β1 or α5β1 integrin-specific ligand are provided. The substrates and devices coated with an α2β1 or α5β1 integrin-specific ligand are shown to have greater tissue formation on the surface relative to controls, in particular greater bone formation.
US08444997B2	Methods of vaccine administration, new feline caliciviruses, and treatments for immunizing animals against feline paraovirus and feline herpes virus The present invention relates to a vaccine composition against feline calicivirus (CFV) infection. The composition comprises a capsid protein of Feline calicivirus-49 (CFV-49), a pharmaceutical accepted carrier and optionally an adjuvant. The present invention further relates to a feline vaccine composition further comprises other live, attenuated or inactivated CVF component in addition to the capsid protein of FCV-49. The present invention also relates to a method for making or using the vaccine compositions.
US08444989B1	One dose vaccination against mycoplasma infections of pigs The present invention provides a one phase, aqueous vaccine composition for immunizing an animal against infection by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, comprising: an immunizing amount of a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin, an acrylic acid polymer in the concentration range between 0.8 and 1.2 mg/ml, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and substantially no oil. It is especially useful for immunizing a pig against infection by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae for at least 20 weeks after a single administration, which effective immunity is reached within 4 weeks after vaccination.
US08444988B2	Cancer treatment method A method of treating cancer is described including administration of a 4-quinazolineamine and at least one other anti-neoplastic agent as well as a pharmaceutical combination including the 4-quinazolineamines.
US08444987B2	Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of immune disorders The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of immune disorders, especially T helper lymphocyte-related disorders. In particular, the invention describes a gene known in the art, alternatively, as ST2, T1 and Fit-1, and referred to herein as the 103 gene. The 103 gene is disclosed herein to be differentially expressed in TH2 cells and not in TH1 cells. Further, the 103 gene product is demonstrated herein to be an important modulator of TH2 and TH2-like immune response both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the 103 gene, its gene products and antibodies that specifically bind thereto can be used diagnostically or as targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of a variety of immune disorders.In this regard, the invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds for treatments of immune disorders, especially TH cell subpopulation-related disorders and including TH2 and TH2-like disorders (i.e., disorders associated with a TH2 or TH2-like mediated immune response) such as atopic conditions (e.g., allergy and asthma). Additionally, methods are provided for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of TH cell subpopulation related disorders, for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions, for monitoring patients undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of such disorders and for monitoring the efficacy of compounds used in clinical trials.
US08444986B2	Monoclonal antibodies specific to hemagglutinin from influenza virus H5-subtype and uses thereof Monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that are specific for conformational epitopes of avian influenza virus K5 subtype hemagglutinin glycoprotein are provided. The antibodies can be used for the detection and treatment of H5 subtype AIV in specimens.
US08444983B2	Composition of anti-ENDO180 antibodies and methods of use for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic diseases The present invention provides antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind the ENDO180 polypeptide and are internalized thereby, to conjugates comprising the molecules, to compositions comprising the antibodies and conjugates and to methods of using the same for delivery of therapeutic agents to cells that express the ENDO180 polypeptide on the surface of the cell for treating cell proliferative diseases or disorders and fibrosis, and for controlling (modulating) tumor progression.
US08444981B2	Alpha-4 beta-7 heterodimer specific antagonist antibody There are disclosed alpha4beta7 heterodimer-specific antigen binding proteins, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of making and using them.
US08444975B2	Method for inhibiting bone resorption This invention relates, in part, to unique and newly identified genetic polynucleotides involved in the process of bone remodeling; variants and derivatives of the polynucleotides and corresponding polypeptides; uses of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives; and methods and compositions for the amelioration of symptoms caused by bone remodeling disorders. Disclosed in particular are, the isolation and identification of polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives involved in osteoclast activity, validation of the identified polynucleotides for their potential as therapeutic targets and use of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, variants and derivatives for the amelioration of disease states and research purposes.
US08444973B2	Anti-CD19 antibodies and uses in B cell disorders The invention relates to immunotherapeutic compositions and methods for the treatment of B cell diseases and disorders in human subjects, such as, but not limited to, B cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases and disorders, using therapeutic antibodies that bind to the human CD19 antigen and that preferably mediate human ADCC. The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising human or humanized anti-CD19 antibodies of the IgG1 or IgG3 human isotype. The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising human or humanized anti-CD19 antibodies of the IgG2 or IgG4 human isotype that preferably mediate human ADCC. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising chimerized anti-CD19 antibodies of the IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 isotype that mediate human ADCC. In preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising monoclonal human, humanized, or chimeric anti-CD19 antibodies.
US08444972B2	Antitumor antibodies, proteins, and uses thereof Antibodies that bind to a 40 kDa protein which is expressed on tumors, but is not expressed on normal adult hemopoietic cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for production and the use of such antibodies.
US08444967B2	Treatment including prebiotic composition for use with probiotics A method is described to treat diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections, constipation, heartburn, bloating, indigestion, flatulence or poor nutrient absorption, by administering a formulation of naturally occurring lecithins and/or oleic acid that stimulate the growth and lactic acid producing activity of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species of probiotic bacteria, and replace polysorbate 80 for those products, and a formulation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species of probiotic bacteria. The formulations are in can a stable powdered form.
US08444963B2	Tumor specific delivery of therapeutic agents via liposomase Clostridium novyi is an obligate anaerobe that can infect hypoxic regions within experimental tumors. We found that mice bearing large, established tumors were often cured when treated with C. novyi plus a single dose of liposomal doxorubicin. The secreted factor responsible for this phenomenon was identified and, surprisingly, proved to be a member of the lipase family. The gene encoding this protein, called liposomase, has the potential to be incorporated into diverse therapeutic methods to deliver specifically a variety of chemotherapeutic agents to tumors.
US08444960B2	Topical administration carrier composition and therapeutic formulations comprising same A topical administration carrier composition including water, glycerin and polysorbate, suitable for use in formulations with active ingredient compositions containing active ingredients such as minoxidil that are susceptible to systemic penetration, and solvents that are susceptible to evaporative loss, when the active ingredient composition is topically applied to the body. The carrier formulation retards the evaporative losses of the solvent component(s) and systemic migration losses of the active ingredient composition, to provide sustained topical action, in relation to formulations lacking the carrier composition of the invention.
US08444959B2	Topical skin care formulations comprising plant extracts Disclosed is a topical skin composition and corresponding methods for its use that includes a first MMP-1 inhibitor, wherein said first inhibitor is an extract from Burretiodendron hsienmu, a second MMP-1 inhibitor, wherein said second inhibitor is an extract from Bauhinia brachycarpa var. cavaleriei, and a third MMP-1 inhibitor, wherein said third inhibitor is an extract from Tetracentron sinense.
US08444956B2	Methods and compositions for improved F-18 labeling of proteins, peptides and other molecules The present application discloses compositions and methods of synthesis and use of 68Ga, 18F or 19F labeled molecules of use in PET or MRI imaging. Preferably, the 18F or 19F is conjugated to a targeting molecule by formation of a complex with a group IIIA metal and binding of the complex to a chelating moiety, which may be directly or indirectly attached to the targeting molecule. In other embodiments, the 68Ga, 18F or 19F labeled moiety may comprise a targetable construct used in combination with a bispecific antibody to target a disease-associated antigen. In more preferred embodiments, a chelating moiety or targetable construct may be conjugated to a targeting molecule, such as an antibody or antibody fragment.
US08444950B2	Polymer carbon nanotube composites A method for forming polymer carbon nanotube composites, the method comprising: contacting carbon nanotubes with ozone to functionalize the sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes with at least one oxygen moiety; and reacting the functionalized carbon nanotubes with at least one monomer or at least one polymer or copolymer to attach polymer chains to the sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes.
US08444945B2	Method for removing sulfur compound in hydrocarbon-containing gas A method for removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon-containing gas wherein the gas is fed to a desulfurizing bed comprising a desulfurizing agent A comprising zeolite and a desulfurizing agent B comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a metal element, a metal oxide and a metal component-carried oxide, is provided. Hydrogen for a fuel cell is produced by a method, wherein the gas obtained by the described desulfurization method is contacted with a partial oxidation reforming catalyst, an autothermal reforming catalyst or a steam reforming catalyst.
US08444943B2	Methods and apparatus for sulfur recovery from acid gases Apparatus and methods for recovering sulfur from acid gases. Acid gases containing relatively high amounts of carbonyl sulfide and/or one or more types of mercaptans can be treated in a sulfur recovery system employing an acid gas enrichment zone and a tail gas treatment zone, where partially-loaded sulfur absorbing solvent from the tail gas treatment zone is employed for sulfur absorption in the acid gas enrichment zone. Off-gas from the acid gas enrichment zone can be combined and hydrogenated with a sulfur recovery unit tail gas thereby increasing the total amount of sulfur recovery from the initial acid gas.
US08444942B2	Process for removing contaminants from gas streams The present invention provides for process for inhibiting the levels of nitrogen oxides in process gas streams from sulfuric acid regeneration and sulfuric acid production plants. Partial oxidation of the nitrogen oxides is achieved by feeding a sub stoichiometric amount of ozone as to nitrogen oxides to the process gas stream.
US08444935B2	Multiple-specimen device testing with particle measurement A sample testing system includes a plurality of sample tubes, each sample tube coupled to a pumping chamber, a pressure control subsystem and a flow control subsystem. The pressure control system includes a first dynamic pump equipped to induce pulsatile pressure in a mass of pumping fluid coupled to the pumping chambers. The flow control subsystem includes a mean flow pump equipped to generate a flow of sample fluid in a plurality of flow loops. Each of the flow loops conducts the flow of sample fluid between the mean flow pump and one of the sample tubes. The pumping chamber couples pressure from the pumping fluid to the sample fluid.
US08444928B2	System for wastewater treatment A method for treating waste water is provided, in which a wastewater is treated through a distilling process to obtain a distilled liquid, and then a reactant is added into the distilled liquid during the distilled liquid flowing to a liquid collecting tank, such that the reactant reacts with the distilled liquid by utilizing the residual temperature of the distilled liquid to form a processed liquid. Meanwhile, a system for wastewater treatment is also provided, which includes a distillation unit, a guiding unit, a means for adding the reactant, and a collecting unit. Since the present invention utilizes the residual temperature of the distilled liquid for the need of the reaction, an additional heat source is unnecessary, such that the consumption of energy can be greatly reduced.
US08444927B2	Cartridge-type dispenser The present invention relates to improved cartridge-type dispenser for a chemical treatment composition which, when contacted with water or other liquid will at least partially dissolve or disperse, and thereby elute one or more chemical compounds to the water or other liquid. The improved cartridge-type dispense may be used itself, or in conjunction with a further apparatus.
US08444917B2	Ammoximation process A redox ammoximation process in which a ketone or aldehyde is reacted with ammonia and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, wherein: the catalyst is an aluminophosphate based redox catalyst having the qualitative general formula (I) M1M2AlPO-5 (I) in which M1 is at least one transition metal atom having redox catalytic capability; M2 is at least one metal atom in the (IV) oxidation state; M1 and M2 are different from each other; and a proportion of the phosphorous atoms in the M1M2AlPO-5 type structure are replaced by M2 atoms.
US08444910B2	Method for operating a shaft furnace, and shaft furnace operable by that method Apparatus for operating a shaft furnace, whereby an upper section of the shaft furnace is charged with raw materials which due to gravity descend inside the furnace while the atmosphere prevailing within the shaft furnace causes part of the raw materials to melt and/or to be reduced, and in a lower section of the shaft furnace a process gas is injected so as to at least partly modify the atmosphere prevailing in the shaft furnace. The pressure and/or volume flow of the injected process gas is dynamically modulated within a time span of 40 s. Also, a shaft furnace operable by said method, thus achieving improved through-gassing.
US08444905B2	Polymeric blends and methods of using same A film comprising a polylactic acid and polypropylene blend having a haze of from about 10% to about 95% and a gloss 45° of from about 50 to about 125. A method of producing an oriented film comprising blending polypropylene and polylactic acid to form a polymeric blend, forming the polymeric blend into a film, and orienting the film. A method of producing an injection molded article comprising blending polypropylene and polylactic acid to form a polymeric blend, injecting the polymeric blend into a mold, and forming the article.
US08444904B2	Resin gear A resin gear comprises a rim in an outer peripheral part of a plate, teeth provided on an outer periphery of the rim, a boss provided in a central part of the plate, and a circular rib between the boss and the rim. The resin gear is manufacturable by injection molding that a molten material is injected into a cavity through a plurality of gates arranged at almost equally spaced intervals circumferentially on a forming portion for the circular rib in a direction perpendicular to a side of the plate. The resin gear includes a plurality of inner thin-wall portions on the plate between the circular rib and the boss and a plurality of outer thin-wall portions on the plate between the circular rib and the rim, each of the inner thin-wall portions and the outer thin-wall portions being symmetrically shaped with respect to the radial line passing through each gate corresponding point.
US08444902B2	Container having a rim or other feature encapsulated by or formed from injection-molded material A container or tray having various features. Also, the invention is generally directed to a method of forming the container or tray and a tool or apparatus for forming the container or tray.
US08444899B2	Methods and materials for fabricating microfluidic devices Materials and Methods are provided for fabricating microfluidic devices. The materials include low surface energy fluoropolymer compositions having multiple cure functional groups. The materials can include multiple photocurable and/or thermal-curable functional groups such that laminate devices can be fabricated. The materials also substantially do not swell in the presence of hydrocarbon solvents.
US08444898B2	High molecular weight poly(alpha-olefin) solutions and articles made therefrom A robust process for the continuous preparation of solutions of high molecular weight UHMW PO that is capable of producing strong materials at high production capacity, is conservative of capital and energy requirements, and the articles made therefrom.
US08444891B2	Carbon nanotube (CNT) extrusion methods and CNT wire and composites A carbon nanotube (CNT) extrusion system includes a carbon source, an extrusion die having a baseplate having a plurality of die sets, each die set has a plurality of through-holes in fluid communication with the carbon source and a corresponding plurality of template tubes connected at one end to the baseplate and coaxial with the through-holes, each template tube includes a catalyst for forming a CNT structure in combination with the carbon source. An oscillating mechanism operatively associated with the free end of each template tube axially oscillates the template tubes to alternately form and release the CNT structure within each template tube in a continuous manner. The oscillating mechanism can be an alternating electric field or magnetic field applied to the template tubes, the frequency of the electric or magnetic field being synchronized with a formation rate of the CNT within the template tubes.
US08444889B2	Imprint pattern forming method An imprint pattern forming method includes contacting a template with a pattern in a front surface with an imprint material formed in a substrate to fill the imprint material into the pattern, curing the imprint material filled in the pattern to form an imprint material pattern, and after forming the imprint material pattern, separating the template from the imprint material pattern while applying pressure to the back surface of the template.
US08444878B2	Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device SubjectThe subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.Means for Solving the SubjectThe invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has a nematic phase and includes a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature as a first component, a compound having a specific bonding group and a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and a specific two-ring compound having a small viscosity as a third component, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.
US08444877B2	High dielectric constant liquid crystal Provided are liquid crystal compounds and mixtures incorporating the same. The liquid crystal compounds of the invention generally comprise a terminal cyclopentene group, along with at least two other ring groups.
US08444876B2	Doped hydrogen storage material A doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The doped hydrogen storage materials are used for storing hydrogen, and also disclosed is a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.
US08444874B2	Heat transfer methods using heat transfer compositions containing trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene Disclosed are methods of transferring heat to or from a fluid or body comprising causing heat to be transferred to or from a composition comprising at least trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluorpropene.
US08444872B2	Magnetic iron oxide particle, magnetic material, and radio wave absorber Disclosed is a magnetic material having high Hc and High Curie point, which is capable of controlling such magnetic characteristics without requiring rare or expensive raw materials. Specifically disclosed is a magnetic material composed of particles of a magnetic iron oxide which is represented by the following general formula: ε-AxByFe2−x−yO3 or ε-AxByCzFe2−x−y−zO3 (wherein A, B and C each represents a metal excluding Fe and different from each other, satisfying 0
US08444871B2	Slurry composition containing cracking agent A slurry composition containing a cracking agent contains paste 1.5-4.0 wt %, oil 1.0-3.0 wt %, a surfactant 0.2-0.5 wt %, a softening agent 0.1-0.5 wt % and a cracking agent 0.005-5.0 wt %. As compared with the formula of known raw slurry for fiberglass yarn, this slurry composition containing the cracking agent facilitates improving desizing efficiency of fiberglass fabric, lowering the required temperature for the second desizing process, shortening desizing time, reducing the loss on ignition, and enhancing the strength of the fiberglass fabric.
US08444869B1	Simultaneous front side ash and backside clean A method and apparatus for cleaning a wafer. The wafer is heated and moved to a processing station within the apparatus that has a platen either permanently in a platen down position or is transferable from a platen up position to the platen down position. The wafer is positioned over the platen so as not to contact the platen and provide a gap between the platen and wafer. The gap may be generated by positioning the platen in a platen down position. A plasma flows into the gap to enable the simultaneous removal of material from the wafer front side, backside and edges. The apparatus may include a single processing station having the gap residing therein, or the apparatus may include a plurality of processing stations, each capable of forming the gap therein for simultaneously removing additional material from the wafer front side, backside and edges.
US08444862B2	Device and method for cleaning a filter cloth A rotary disc filter device comprises a rotary drum and a plurality of disc-shaped filter members secured about the drum. Each disc-shaped filter member has a filtering material disposed on the outside thereof. A guide bar extends longitudinally across the disc-shaped filter members and has a movable carriage mounted thereon. One or more nozzles are operatively connected to the carriage for delivering cleaning fluid onto the filtering materials. The guide bar is rotates between a cleaning position and an adjustment position. When the guide bar is in the cleaning position, the nozzle is disposed adjacent to one of the disc-shaped filter members such that the nozzle is positioned to deliver cleaning fluid onto the filtering material. When the guide bar is in the adjustment position, the carriage is movable along the guide bar without interference from the disc-shaped filter members.
US08444861B2	Method and apparatus using hydrogen peroxide and microwave system for slurries treatment A method and apparatus for treating slurries of organic solids is disclosed. A slurry of organic solids is admixed with hydrogen peroxide, followed by exposure to microwave irradiation resulting in the heating of the mixture and enhanced hydrolysis of the organic solids. The treated slurry of organic solids can then be further treated in a variety of downstream processes, including solid separation, digestion and fermentation. The supernatant portion of the treated slurry of organic solids can be a source from which to recover compounds such as nutrients (for example nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, calcium) or industrial organic compounds (such as acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid), or as a source of readily biodegradable organic compounds for supplementing a biological wastewater treatment process, digester or fermenter.
US08444860B2	Method and apparatus for disinfecting hot water A method for disinfecting hot water, in recirculating systems, includes producing monochloramine directly in hot water, at a temperature higher than 30° C. in a hot water circulating system The method is implemented by an apparatus for disinfecting hot water, in recirculating systems, having a main hot water circuit, one or more water delivery points and a water feed point, adapted to maintain the circulating water volume constant, a drawing point, where a portion of water of the main circuit is drawn and an intake point where water added with monochloramine is reintroduced into the main circuit; and an adding circuit formed between the drawing point and the intake point; the adding circuit has a control and adding system, adapted to add monochloramine producing reagents to the hot water.
US08444858B2	Control of development of biofilms in industrial process water There is provided a method of inhibiting the development of a biofilm adjacent a surface, the method comprising intermittently applying a biofilm inhibiting substance to a collection of microorganisms having biofilm developing potential. Other embodiments are also described.
US08444857B2	Method for purifying fluorinated compound A method for purifying a fluorinated carboxylic acid having an etheric oxygen atom and its derivative, with small decomposition and inclusion of impurities. A liquid containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of a fluorinated compound represented by application formulae (1) and (2) is held at a heating temperature of at most 150° C. and distilled. Further, the liquid is a liquid obtained from any of a waste liquid after an aqueous emulsion of a fluoropolymer is coagulated and the fluoropolymer is separated, an aqueous liquid obtained by cleaning an exhaust gas in a step of drying and/or a step of heat treatment of the separated fluoropolymer, and a liquid obtained by cleaning an anion exchange resin which has been brought into contact with the waste liquid or an aqueous dispersion obtained from the aqueous emulsion of the fluoropolymer, with an alkaline aqueous solution.
US08444853B2	Leo-polarizer for treating a fluid flow by magnetic field A device for magnetic treatment of a fluid flow preferably comprises a spirally-shaped conduit having spiral turns with a null step therebetween, and a cross-section for passing the flow therethrough, inner magnets internally circumferentially surrounding the turns coupled to the conduit, outer magnets externally circumferentially surrounding the turn. Each inner magnet is situated opposite to a respective counterpart outer magnet, so that the North (or South) pole of the inner magnet faces the South (or North) pole of the counterpart magnet. The magnets can be made of specific sizes, materials, covered by magnetic yokes. In a multi-layer embodiment, the device comprises a steel tube enclosed into and supporting an inner cylindrical magnet, a spirally-shaped conduit consisting of a number of layers, and rows of outer magnets consisting of magnets circumferentially surrounding predeterminedly chosen layers, and having magnetic fluxes uniformly directed either from or to the center of the cylindrical magnet.
US08444852B2	Magnetic water activator A magnetic water activator resistant to corrosion such as rusting while soft on the outside, and exhibiting excellent portability also from the view point of a profile. The magnetic water activator comprises a pair of magnetic circuit constituting members formed of a high magnetic permeability material and forming a partial annular shape in which one end of each member is coupled to each other rotatably with each recess side facing each other, a permanent magnet arranged along the recess side of each magnetic circuit constituting member, and a substantially annular elastic resin shell partially provided with a slit extending in the radial direction, and internally burying and holding the magnetic circuit constituting member and the permanent magnet in an airtight state.
US08444850B2	Operating method for hydrodenitrogenation The present invention relates to a catalytic process for removing organonitrogen species from hydrocarbon mixtures such as refinery process feedstreams. More particularly, this invention relates to a new operating and catalyst loading strategies based on organonitrogen concentration, composition, and structure.
US08444846B2	Method and system for producing hydrogen using sodium ion separation membranes A method of producing hydrogen from sodium hydroxide and water is disclosed. The method comprises separating sodium from a first aqueous sodium hydroxide stream in a sodium ion separator, feeding the sodium produced in the sodium ion separator to a sodium reactor, reacting the sodium in the sodium reactor with water, and producing a second aqueous sodium hydroxide stream and hydrogen. The method may also comprise reusing the second aqueous sodium hydroxide stream by combining the second aqueous sodium hydroxide stream with the first aqueous sodium hydroxide stream. A system of producing hydrogen is also disclosed.
US08444845B2	Biofuel composition and manufacturing process A process for producing a fuel, which comprises the step of performing electrolysis on an alcoholic solution or a melt of a fatty acid or salt thereof or fatty acid ester or other derivative or precursor thereof, to decarboxylate said fatty acid or derivative, and produce a mixture of an ether and an alkene.
US08444842B2	Electroplating methods and chemistries for deposition of group IIIA-group via thin films An electrochemical co-deposition method and solution to plate uniform, defect free and smooth (In,Ga)—Se films with repeatability and controllable molar ratios of (In,Ga) to Se are provided. Such layers are used in fabrication of semiconductor and electronic devices such as thin film solar cells. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an alkaline electrodeposition solution that includes an In salt, a Se acid or oxide, a tartrate salt as complexing agent for the In species, and a solvent to electrodeposit an In—Se film possessing sub-micron thickness on a conductive surface.
US08444838B2	Methods, compositions, and kits for protein crystallization The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits for protein crystallization. The present invention involves electrophoretically focusing at least a first protein species within a matrix comprising at least 2 regions of different pH, the protein being present in amount sufficient to permit crystallization within said pH gradient.
US08444837B2	Arrangement for producing fluid flows and/or particle flows, and a method for the manufacture and operation thereof A device for producing at least one of fluid flows and particles flows includes a substrate having a substrate surface. The substrate surface includes a matrix including a plurality of regions having at least one of a different magnitude of a surface charge, a different sign of the surface charge, and a different height above the substrate. A fluid including at least partially electrically charged particles is disposed at the substrate surface. A first control element is configured to supply a plurality of electrical voltages to a plurality of electrode pairs. The electric field exerts a first force on a component of the fluid within an electrical double layer. The component is disposed adjacent to the substrate surface. The electric field exerts a second force within the double layer and outside the double layer, the second force is exerted on the at least partially electrically charged particles.
US08444833B2	Device for electrochemical water preparation The invention relates to an electrolysis device for cleaning acidic waters which comprises a cathode, an anode, and an ion exchange membrane, wherein the membrane is arranged between the cathode and the anode and is attached at least along the entire circumference of its rim, wherein many inlets and outlets are arranged along the upper and lower rim of the electrolysis device which are linked to the cathode space or to the anode space, in such a way that a plug flow, ideally with a laminar profile, is created in the cathode space and in the anode space.
US08444831B2	Method of generating ozone A method of generating ozone by applying a silent discharge to oxygen as a first raw material gas, and an oxide compound gas, as a second raw material gas, in which excited light, excited and generated by a discharge in the oxygen and the oxide compound gas, dissociates the oxide compound gas, or excites the oxide compound gas, accelerating dissociation of the oxygen and generation of ozone. In this way, ozone generation efficiency is raised.
US08444828B2	Pyrolyzer furnace apparatus and method for operation thereof A pyrolyzer and method is provided for devolatizing coal and other volatile materials. The pyrolyzer has a pyrolyzer furnace housing having at least two screws laterally positioned adjacent and overlapping rotatably mounted within the furnace for moving volatile material through the pyrolyzer furnace housing. The screws have hollow drive shafts with a diverter inside for converging heated fluid to heat the volatile material moving through the pyrolyzer furnace housing. A combustion chamber combusts fuel to create heated exhaust gas for directing through the hollow drive shafts to heat the volatile material. The pyrolyzer furnace housing may have a double wall with a cavity between, capable of receiving heated fluid for further heating of volatile material moving through the pyrolyzer furnace housing.
US08444823B2	Method and apparatus for paper stock mixing A method of mixing paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes: (a) feeding liquid and feeding paper pulp into a vessel to form a mixture; (b) providing at least one counterflow impeller that is submerged in the mixture, the counterflow impeller being capable of simultaneously inducing both upward flow and downward flow; (c) rotating the counterflow impeller such that downward flow from the impeller is partially recirculated by upward flow from the impeller to form a mixing zone; (d) sensing a parameter of the mixture discharged from the vessel; and (e) controlling the feed rate of the liquid and the feed rate of the paper pulp in the feeding step (a) based on the sensing step (d). An apparatus for mixing of paper stock, having improved outlet consistency, includes a vessel for containing liquid and paper pulp, at least one counterflow impeller, and a feedback system for controlling outlet consistency.
US08444820B2	Aqueous composition containing at least one soluble gelatinized anionic starch An aqueous composition which is anionic in nature, includes at least one soluble gelatinized anionic starch and at least one insoluble anionic starch. A method of using the composition, in particular for the manufacture of a paper or of a flat board, and the paper or the flat board obtained therefrom, along with various industrial uses such as water treatment or the production of cosmetic products, are also described.
US08444816B2	Polyareneazole/thermoplastic pulp and methods of making same The present invention relates to thermoplastic and polyareneazole pulp for use as reinforcement material in products including for example fluid sealing materials, as a processing aid including its use as a thixotrope, and as a filter material. The pulp comprises (a) irregularly shaped, thermoplastic fiber fibrous structures, (b) irregularly shaped, polyareneazole fibrous structures and (c) water, whereby thermoplastic fiber fibrils and/or stalks are substantially entangled with polyareneazole fibrils and/or stalks. The invention further relates to processes for making such thermoplastic and polyareneazole pulp.
US08444815B2	Pulp comprising polypyridobisimidazole and other polymers and methods of making same The present invention relates to fibrous pulp comprising a combination of polypyridobisimidazole fibrous structures and fibrous structures derived from another polymer. The invention further relates to processes for making such pulp and articles comprising the pulp.
US08444806B2	Plasma generator, plasma control method and method of producing substrate The present invention aims to provide a plasma generator capable of creating a spatially uniform distribution of high-density plasma. This object is achieved by the following construction. Multiple antennas are located on the sidewall of a vacuum chamber, and a RF power source is connected to three or four antennas in parallel via a plate-shaped conductor. The length of the conductor of each antenna is shorter than the quarter wavelength of the induction electromagnetic wave generated within the vacuum chamber. Setting the length of the conductor of the antenna in such a manner prevents the occurrence of a standing wave and thereby maintains the uniformity of the plasma within the vacuum chamber. In addition, the plate-shaped conductor improves the heat-releasing efficiency, which also contributes to the suppression of the impedance.
US08444801B2	Anodic bonding method and piezoelectric vibrator manufacturing method An anodic bonding method of anodically bonding a base wafer 10 and a lid wafer 11 includes:(1) superimposing the base wafer 10 and the lid wafer 11 onto each other in a direction where a bonding film 9 faces a cavity C; (2) subsequent to the superimposition step, pressurizing and holding the base wafer 10 and the lid wafer 11 in a vacuum state in the superimposition direction; and (3) subsequent to the pressurizing step, partitioning and setting a plurality of intended bonding areas A1, A2, A3 and A4 in a concentric form on a contacting surface where the base wafer 10 and the lid wafer 11 are in contact with each other and applying a DC voltage to each of the plurality of intended bonding areas A1, A2, A3 and A4.
US08444800B2	Apparatus and method of manufacturing silicon seed rod A manufacturing apparatus of silicon seed rod in which two silicon seed rods are joined into one long silicon seed rod by welding, having: an upper seed rod holding part holding an upper silicon seed rod vertically; an elevating device holding a lower silicon seed rod which faces a lower end of the upper silicon seed rod in a state in which the lower silicon seed rod is movable vertically; an induction-heating coil being arranged around the lower end of the upper silicon seed rod; a preheating ring being disposed below the induction-heating coil; and a moving device of the preheating ring that moves the preheating ring between a heat position in which the preheating ring is induction-heated around an upper end of the lower silicon seed rod by the induction-heating coil and a wait position which is distant from the heat position.
US08444795B2	Pneumatic tire manufacturing method and pneumatic tire Provided is a pneumatic tire manufacturing method capable of improving the productivity of pneumatic tires each having surface fasteners in its tire inner surface, and of avoiding manufacturing a pneumatic tire having a deteriorated uniformity, as well as of preventing engagement elements of each surface fastener from being crushed. Also, provided is a pneumatic tire manufactured by the pneumatic tire manufacturing method. The pneumatic tire manufacturing method according to the present invention includes the steps of, in making a green tire having two-side fasteners in its tire inner surface in its tire circumferential direction, each two-side fastener including an engagement element group on both sides: covering the engagement element groups on first sides of the two-side fasteners with a protective rubber layer made of an uncured rubber; making a cylindrical first formed body on a making drum, with the two-side fasteners covered with the protective rubber layer being intermittently attached to an inner circumferential surface of the first forming body in a circumferential direction thereof with the engagement element groups on second sides of the two-side fasteners being interposed in between; bonding the first formed body to an inner circumference of an annular second formed body by compression through expanding the first formed body into a toroidal shape, and thereby making the green tire; and curing the green tire inside a mold of a curing machine while pressing the green tire from its inside by a bladder.
US08444793B2	Semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof. The fabricating method comprises: providing a first substrate; forming a soft dry film having an adhesive film and a release film; sticking the soft dry film on the first substrate with the adhesive film; removing the release film; sticking a second substrate on the adhesive film; and heating the adhesive film to solidify the adhesive film to form a solid adhesive film. The semiconductor device comprises: a first substrate, a solid adhesive film, and a second substrate. The solid adhesive film is formed on the first substrate, and the second substrate is formed on the solid adhesive film.
US08444789B2	Decorative brick mould for in-situ production on building A decorative wall tile mold for the in-situ production on a building, wherein the mold, which can be demolded twice, is a sheet with pierced work, comprises the following detachable lateral structures: an insider layer: a bottom film is set at the bottom surface thereof, the bottom film and the building have a first combinative force; an outer layer: a surface film is set on the exterior surface thereof, a self-adhesive glue section is set up between the inside layer and the outer layer, which makes the outer layer and the inside layer have a second combinative force, and the second combinative force is less than the first combinative force. A method for the in-situ production of decorative patterns on a building is also provided.
US08444784B2	Insensitive munition-type BNCP explosive material and methods for forming the same Insensitive munition-type explosive material and methods for forming insensitive munition-type explosive material are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an insensitive munition-type explosive material comprises a particle of BNCP and a surfactant-comprising shell that encapsulates the particle of BNCP.
US08444781B1	Method of strengthening metal parts through ausizing The subject invention discloses a process for strengthening and obtaining the desired dimensions for a metal part comprising: (1) heating at least a portion of a preformed metal part to a temperature above about 1300° F. to transform the metal in at least said portion of the part to an austenitic state to produce an austenitized preformed metal part, (2) quenching the austenitized preformed metal part to a temperature of 300° F. to 650° F. to put the metal in the preformed part in a metastable austenitic state, (3) coining, drawing or extruding the preformed metal part while said metal of said preformed metal part is maintained in the metastable austenitic state at a temperature of 300° F. to 650° F., and (4) quenching the coined, drawn, or extruded metal part at a temperature which allows for the rapid transformation from austenite to martensite.
US08444780B2	Hot rolled thin cast strip product and method for making the same A hot rolled steel strip made by the steps including assembling a twin roll caster, forming a casting pool of molten steel of such composition that the cast strip produced comprises by weight, greater than 0.25% and up to 1.1% carbon, between 0.40 and 2.0% manganese, between 0.05 and 0.50% silicon, less than 0.01% aluminum, counter rotating the casting rolls to solidify metal shells and forming a steel strip, hot rolling the steel strip such that mechanical properties at 10% and 35% reduction are within 10% for yield strength, tensile strength and total elongation, and coiling the hot rolled steel strip at a temperature between 550 and 750° C. to provide a majority of the microstructure comprising pearlite, along with bainite and acicular ferrite. The steel may have a free oxygen content between 5 and 50 ppm or between 25 and 45 ppm.
US08444777B2	High-strength and high-ductility Al alloy and process for production of the same An object of the present invention is to provide an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu 7000-series Al alloy having high ductility as well as having high strength. For attaining this purpose, an Al alloy having a structure in which an inclusion is not included is produced by reducing an amount of oxygen contained in an Al alloy that is obtained by solidifying a preform resulting from rapid solidification by preferably spray forming a molten metal of an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu 7000-series Al alloy with an inert gas. This Al alloy has, as mechanical properties at an ordinary temperature, a tensile strength of 600 MPa or more, and an elongation of 15% or more when the tensile strength is from 600 MPa or more and less than 800 MPa or an elongation of 10% or more when the tensile strength is 800 MPa or more, and is excellent in cold workability such as rollability.
US08444776B1	High hardness, high toughness iron-base alloys and methods for making same An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to low-alloy steels exhibiting high hardness and an advantageous level of multi-hit ballistic resistance with low or no crack propagation imparting a level of ballistic performance suitable for military armor applications. Various embodiments of the steels according to the present disclosure have hardness in excess of 550 BHN and demonstrate a high level of ballistic penetration resistance relative to conventional military specifications.
US08444774B2	Flux composition and process for use thereof The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another. The process employs the flux composition operatively associated with the solder, and in one embodiment the invention comprises a mixture of the flux composition with powdered solder. In another embodiment, the process comprises IMS, C4 and C4NP processes and the solder comprises a lead free solder. The invention also comprises a product produced by the foregoing process or processes.
US08444767B2	Coating device A coating device includes a reaction device, a mixing device, a deposition device, a first switching device and a second switching device. The reaction device defines a reaction chamber. The mixing device is connected to the reaction device and defines a mixing chamber that communicates with the reaction chamber. The deposition device is connected to the mixing device and defines a deposition chamber that communicates with the mixing chamber. The first switching device is configured to communicate the reaction chamber and the mixing chamber and separate the reaction chamber from the mixing chamber. The second switching device is configured to communicate the mixing chamber and the deposition chamber and separate the mixing chamber from the deposition chamber.
US08444764B2	Setting retarder for hydraulically setting compositions The present invention relates to a setting retarder for compounds that set hydraulically, containing at least one at least simple adduct and/or condensate, the retarder being produced by the reaction of at least one protein hydrolysate, one pure amino acid, amino acid mixture, and/or the hydrochlorides thereof having at least one mono-, di-, oligo- and/or polycarboxylic acid which is not derived from an amino acid, and/or a carboxylic acid derivative derived therefrom, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from a group including carboxylic acid anhydrides, carboxylic acid halogenides, and/or carboxylic acid active esters.
US08444762B2	Varnish compositions for electrical insulation and method of using the same A varnish composition for producing an electrically insulative thermoset coating is disclosed. The varnish composition includes a functionalized poly(phenylene ether) having at least one aliphatic unsaturated group and exhibiting an intrinsic viscosity in the range of about 0.06 to about 0.25 deciliter per gram, measured in chloroform at 25° C. The varnish composition further includes an unsaturated polyester resin or vinyl ester resin, a reactive liquid monomer, and a compatibilizing agent. When cured, the polymers and reactive liquid monomer form an electrically insulative thermoset.
US08444757B2	Thermoplastic cellulose ester composition and fibers made therefrom This invention provides fibers made from a thermoplastic cellulose ester composition, which can maintain excellent mechanical properties still after high temperature dyeing treatment, especially suitable as fibers mixed with polyester fibers or as fabrics woven or knitted together with polyester fibers, and also provides the thermoplastic cellulose ester composition constituting the fibers. For example, this invention provides a thermoplastic cellulose ester composition containing at least 70 to 95 wt % of a cellulose fatty acid mixed ester with an average substitution degree of 2.4 to 2.8, 5 to 25 wt % of a plasticizer and 1 to 10 wt % of a cellulose acetate with an average substitution degree of 2.3 to 2.6, and also provides fibers made from the thermoplastic cellulose ester composition.
US08444749B2	Method and system for membrane-based gas recovery A fast gas is recovered from a feed gas containing a fast gas and at least one slow gas using a gas separation membrane. A controller may control a control valve associated with a partial recycle of a permeate gas from the membrane for combining with the feed gas. A controller may control a control valve associated with the backpressure of a residue gas from the membrane.
US08444748B2	Multistage air cleaner including pulse cleaning system A V-pack filter includes a frame construction having a first frame structure and a second frame structure. The V-pack filter also includes first and second panel sections mounted in extension between the first and second frame structures. The first panel section has first and second ends. The second panel section has third and fourth ends. The first and third ends have a first distance therebetween while the second and fourth ends have a second distance therebetween. The second distance is generally greater than the first distance. The first and second panel sections and the second frame structure define an air flow aperture. A seal arrangement circumscribes the air flow aperture and projects outwardly from the second frame structure. The first frame structure defines a first receiver indent. Assemblies and methods are also included.
US08444747B2	Methods and devices for displacing body convection and providing a controlled personal breathing zone Methods and devices are provided whereby a controlled personal breathing zone is maintained using temperature controlled laminar air flow (TLA) of filtered air. A substantially laminar, descending flow of filtered air is maintained with a velocity determined by the air-temperature difference between the supplied air and the ambient air t at the level of the personal breathing zone. The air-temperature of the filtered supply air can be carefully adjusted to maintain the velocity-determining difference in air-temperature within the optimum range of 0.3 to 1° C. Thus being able to at the same time displace body convection and achieve comfort.
US08444745B2	Amorphous metal foam as a property-matched bone scaffold substitute Amorphous metal foams and methods of making the same are provided. The amorphous metal foams have properties matching those of natural bone, enabling their use as bone replacement scaffolds. In one embodiment, for example, an amorphous metal foam has a density-dependent stiffness (or Young's modulus, denoted E) ranging from about 640ρ3.75 τo αβouτ 2900ρ0.78, and a density dependent strength (σy) greater than about 8.1ρ2.57, wherein ρ (the density) is less than about 1.7 g/cc.
US08444744B2	Method for separating and recovering nickel and lithium A method for extracting nickel and lithium includes solvent extraction step of using three or more extraction stages to subject a solution containing lithium and nickel to solvent extraction with 2-Ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester at a pH of 8.0 to 8.5, whereby the nickel and the lithium are co-extracted into a resultant organic phase.
US08444742B2	Soluble calcium fertilizer formulation A concentrated aqueous fertilizer which is readily water-soluble and a method of applying the solubilized dilute fertilizer to crops to enhance crop production are described. The dry fertilizer contains a contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds, as well as a mixture of plant growth stimulators including at least one of each of growth promoters, vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates/polysaccharides, and adjuvants.
US08444740B2	Nonwoven fabric for exhaust-gas treatment, exhaust-gas purification device and method for producing a nonwoven fabric for exhaust-gas treatment A nonwoven fabric for exhaust-gas treatment includes a multiplicity of metallic filaments having at least two types of different contours of the metallic filaments. An exhaust-gas purification device includes a channel structure through which exhaust gas can at least partially flow. The channel structure is made at least partially with such a nonwoven fabric. A method for producing a nonwoven fabric for exhaust-gas treatment is also provided.
US08444736B2	Air filter unit having a radially divided housing In a filter element (10) having a filter bellows (11) which is covered at each end by an end disk (13, 14), the end disks (13, 14) are each provided with at least one coupling element for coupling to a filter housing (20) and connected to one another via at least one central tube (12) spanning the filter bellows (11). Alternatively, a central tube which runs right through and onto which end disks and filter bellows are pushed and which is configured at its ends for coupling with parts of the housing is present.
US08444734B2	Apparatus for the separation of particles contained in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines The invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of particles contained in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines in which the exhaust gas flow is guided through a filter medium in which particles can be absorbed and held back. The invention should improve the separation in a cost effective manner with respect to conventional particle filters. In accordance with the invention, the filter medium (1) is made from a metal open-pore foam having at least two layers (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) which each have a thickness, porosity and/or pore size in the flowthrough direction through the filter medium which differ from one another. In one embodiment, the particle filter includes first and second filter medium layers where the first filter medium has a mean pore size larger than a mean pore size of the second filter medium, and the first filter medium has a thickness that increases in a direction of the exhaust gas flow inlet passage of the filter housing.
US08444732B2	Vane-type separator A vane-type separator with pockets for removing solid and liquid particles entrained in a gaseous stream. Vanes are fabricated from a plurality of modular components which may be assembled to form vanes of varying lengths. The vanes include pockets with rounded leading edges to encourage particulate to impinge on the vane and move into the pockets by surface tension and aerodynamic forces. The vane-type separator allows for a higher gas stream velocity before particulate is found downstream of the vane-type separator.
US08444729B2	Electrically regenerated exhaust particulate filter having non-axial regeneration flame propagation An exhaust particulate filter for an engine system includes an array of filter cartridges positioned within a shell, each of the cartridges having an electrically powered heating element coupled therewith. Exhaust gases may be distributed among the cartridges according to a single distribution pattern, and the filter can be regenerated without diverting, dividing or bypassing exhaust gases from the filter. The filter cartridges may be cylindrical or wedge-shaped, or of a variety of other configurations. Regeneration may take place according to a non-axial regeneration propagation profile. Other aspects include feedback control and feedforward control of regeneration based on sensing an electrical resistance property of each of the electrically powered heating elements.
US08444725B2	System and process for producing synthetic liquid hydrocarbon Production of synthetic liquid hydrocarbon fuel from carbon containing moieties such as biomass, coal, methane, naphtha as a carbon source and hydrogen from a carbon-free energy source is disclosed. The biomass can be fed to a gasifier along with hydrogen, oxygen, steam and recycled carbon dioxide. The synthesis gas from the gasifier exhaust is sent to a liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor to form liquid hydrocarbon molecules. Unreacted CO & H2 can be recycled to the gasifier along with CO2 from the liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor system. Hydrogen can be obtained from electrolysis of water, thermo-chemical cycles or directly by using energy from carbon-free energy sources.
US08444721B2	Engineered fuel feed stock Disclosed are novel engineered fuel feed stocks, feed stocks produced by the described processes, and methods of making the fuel feed stocks. Components derived from processed MSW waste streams can be used to make such feed stocks which are substantially free of glass, metals, grit and noncombustibles. These feed stocks are useful for a variety of purposes including as gasification and combustion fuels.
US08444719B2	Method and apparatus for the batch preparation of biodiesel The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the batch preparation of esters of fatty acids obtained from biological sources. In particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for the batch preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids obtained from waste oil or animal fats for use as biodiesel.
US08444714B2	Oxidative dyeing compositions comprising an 1-Hexy1/Hepty1-4,5-diaminopyrazole and a benzene-1,3-diol and derivatives thereof An oxidative dyeing composition comprising (A) a 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound of the general formula (I), its physiologically compatible water-soluble salt, or mixtures thereof; (B) a benzene-1,3-diol compound of the general formula (II), its physiologically compatible water-soluble salt, or mixtures thereof, and (C) an oxidizing agent. wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein and a=1 or 2.
US08444713B2	Oxidative dyeing compositions comprising an 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole and a naphthalen-1-ol and derivatives thereof An oxidative dyeing composition comprising a combination of a 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound of formula (I) or a physiologically compatible, water-soluble salt thereof in combination with a naphthalen-1-ol compound of formula (II) or a physiologically compatible, water-soluble salt thereof wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 are as defined herein and a=1 or 2.
US08444712B2	Oxidative dyeing compositions comprising an 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole and a benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylamine and derivatives thereof A composition for the oxidative dyeing of keratin fibers, in particular human keratin fibers, comprising (A) a 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound of the general formula (I), its physiologically compatible water-soluble salt, or mixtures thereof; and (B) a benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylamine compound of the general formula (II), its physiologically compatible water-soluble salt, or mixtures thereof; and (C) an oxidizing agent wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein and a=1 or 2.
US08444709B2	Oxidative dyeing compositions comprising an 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole and a 2-aminophenol and derivatives thereof An oxidative dyeing composition comprising a 1-hexyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound or a 1-heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound of formula (I) in combination with a 2-aminophenol compound of formula (II): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein and a=1 or 2. The composition provides good hair color intensity together with good wash and bleeding fastness.
US08444706B2	Oxidizing composition for the treatment of keratin fibers The present invention relates to an oxidizing composition for treatment of keratin fibers comprising a combination of; (a) at least one anionic associative copolymer, (b) at least one anionic non associative copolymer; (c) at least one peroxide agent; (d) at least one persulfate agent; (e) at least on alkalizing agent; and (f) a carrier medium suitable for hair treatment. The oxidizing composition described is suitable for composition used in conventional hair treatments such as dyeing, bleaching, and permanent waving or relaxing/straightening of the keratinous fibers, particularly human hair, requiring an oxidizing composition.
US08444704B2	Enhanced methods for mimicking human gait with prosthetic knee devices A prosthetic knee provides a single axis of rotation and includes a hydraulic damping cylinder, a microprocessor, and sensors. Based on input from the sensors, the microprocessor selects a flow path within the hydraulic cylinder in order to provide the proper amount of knee resistance to bending for a given situation. The resistance of each flow path within the hydraulic cylinder is manually preset. Changes in gait speed are accommodated by employing a hydraulic damper with intelligently designed position sensitive damping. Moreover, the knee need not be un-weighted to transition from the stance phase to the swing phase of gait. As a result, the knee safely provides a natural, energy efficient gait over a range of terrains and gait speeds and is simpler, less costly, and lighter weight than the prior art.
US08444701B2	Antimicrobial containment cap for a bone anchored prosthesis mounting An antimicrobial containment cap is provided for use in a bone anchored prosthesis mounting system of the type having an externally protruding fixator pin carried by all implanted bone anchored mounting post, wherein the fixator pin accommodates removable attachment to an exoskeletal prosthesis such as a prosthetic limb or the like for an amputee. The containment cap, when mounted onto the fixator pin, is interposed between the prosthesis and soft tissue covering the end or stump of an amputated residual limb or the like. The containment cap carries and supports a selected antimicrobial or antibacterial agent in substantial contact with the soft stump tissue in a position closely overlying and substantially circumscribing the tissue interface with the externally protruding fixator pin to safeguard against infection. The containment cap is adapted for quick and easy periodic removal for cleaning and/or replenishment of the antimicrobial agent.
US08444697B1	Spinal fusion implant and methods of use thereof The present invention comprises a method of stabilizing adjacent vertebral bodies with an expandable and size varying spinal fusion intervertebral implant device that comprises an expandable top(s) and, or bottom. The method comprises inserting the device into the intervertebral disc space. Once properly positioned, the method further comprises engaging the expandable body of the device by inserting and rotating a screw that runs along the longitudinal axis of the implant.The expansion of the hinged top(s) and, or bottom may be used to restore normal balance, tilt and disc height of the vertebrae. Further, expansion of the device will engage surrounding vertebrae, thereby securely seating the device within the intervertebral disc space.The method further comprises providing a bone material in or on the expandable cutting body of the device and, or in or on the intervertebral spacer portion of the device to permit fusion of the adjacent intervertebral bodies.
US08444695B2	Prosthetic disc for intervertebral insertion A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces, upper and lower plates, and peripheral restraining structure on at least one of the upper plate, the lower plate and the core. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and an inner curved surface which slides over the curved surface of the core. The peripheral restraining structure serves to hold the core against a curved surface of at least one of the plates during sliding movement of the plates over the core.
US08444692B2	Instrumentation with inwardly moveable extensions for inserting an expandable interbody spinal fusion implant An implant holder for inserting an interbody spinal implant.
US08444689B2	Valve prosthesis with movably attached claspers with apex A valve prosthesis, implantation device, and methods for use are provided. The implantation device utilizes movable claspers for both positioning and anchoring the valve prosthesis. Alternative designs of the devices allow different methods for minimally invasive implantation of a sutureless valve prosthesis, including transapical and transcatheter approaches. Also provided is a delivery device for delivery of a medical prosthesis though minimally invasive means.
US08444688B2	Covered stents with degradable barbs The present invention is directed at a removable stent for providing reinforcement to a selected region of a selected body lumen including a resilient cylindrical layer, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen. The present invention also includes a temporary implantable endoprosthesis which includes a tubular, radially compressible and axially flexible structure, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen.
US08444687B2	Implantable vascular device A multiple-sided medical device comprises a frame comprising wire or other resilient material and having a series of bends and interconnecting sides. The device has both a flat configuration and a second, folded configuration which a generally serpentine shape. The device is pushed from a delivery catheter into the lumen of a duct or vessel and may include one or more barbs for anchoring purposes. A full or partial covering of fabric or other flexible material such as DACRON, PTFE, or a collagen-based material such as small intestinal submucosa (SIS), may be sutured or attached to the frame using heat or pressure welding crimping, adhesive, or other techniques to form an occlusion device, a stent graft, or an implantable, intraluminal valve such as for correcting incompetent veins in the lower legs and feet.
US08444686B2	Catheter with removable balloon protector and stent delivery system with removable stent protector A medical device has a catheter with a proximal portion, a distal portion, a shaft and an expandable member located at the distal portion. The expandable member is constructed and arranged for expanding the outer diameter of the catheter from a contracted state to an expanded state. A removable sleeve is positioned around the entire length of the expandable member. The sleeve has a first end and a second end, and an inner diameter that increases over the entire length of the sleeve.
US08444684B2	Devices and methods for controlling patient temperature Relatively non-invasive devices and methods for heating or cooling a patient's body are disclosed. Devices and methods for treating ischemic conditions by inducing therapeutic hypothermia are disclosed. Devices and methods for inducing therapeutic hypothermia through esophageal cooling are disclosed. Devices and methods for operative temperature management are disclosed.
US08444683B2	Apparatus and methods for optical stimulation of neural tissues The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a method for stimulating neural tissue of a living subject. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of generating at least one beam of radiation; introducing at least one of one or more chromophores and one or more optical agents to a target neural tissue; and delivering the at least one beam of radiation to the target neural tissue, wherein the at least one beam of radiation is delivered with a radiant exposure that causes a thermal gradient in the target neural tissue, thereby stimulating the target neural tissue.
US08444681B2	Polyaxial bone anchor with pop-on shank, friction fit retainer and winged insert A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in an integral receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. A down-loadable compression insert with tool receiving arm extensions, a down-loadable friction fit split retaining ring and an up-loadable shank upper portion cooperate to provide for pop- or snap-on assembly of the shank with the receiver either prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra. The shank and receiver once assembled cannot be disassembled.
US08444680B2	Polyaxial bushing for locking plate A bone plate with a new design that prevents the bushing from rotating and/or dislodging from the screw hole during screw insertion. The plate is provided with through-holes having internal walls with at least one flat that is configured to align with a corresponding flat provided on the outer wall of the bushing. The bushing is inserted by orienting the bushing in a direction perpendicular to the through-hole of the plate so that the center of the bushing is aligned with the center of the through-hole and the flat on the bushing is aligned with the flat on the through-hole of the bone plate. The bushing is introduced into the through hole until the centers are aligned, and then the bushing is rotated about 90 degrees so that the bushing is captured within the through-hole of the plate. Once captured, the bushing cannot rotate, dislodge from, or come out of the plate unless the bushing is turned 90 degrees. The flat on the bushing mates with the flat on the internal wall of the hole (screw hole) to prevent it from rotating within the screw hole, and avoiding the need for a bushing guide during screw insertion.
US08444675B2	Tooth-hardening apparatus A tooth-hardening apparatus according to the present invention includes a tooth-hardening member of a plate shape having a projection on its surface, and a nipple attached on the tooth-hardening member. The nipple has a predetermined hardness to provide a pacifier function and a tooth-hardening function. A space is formed in the tooth-hardening member. The space is covered with an upper transparent cover and a lower transparent cover.
US08444669B2	Embolic filter delivery system and method The disclosure pertains to a medical device deployment system comprising a restraint member which holds the embolic protection filter in a restrained, or partially collapsed, state for insertion into a lumen and transit to a desired deployment site. The restraint member comprises two or more portions which differ in their mechanical ability to resist the radial forces exerted by various portions of the medical device when it is in a restrained, or partially collapsed, state. The restraint member is maintained in a restraint configuration by an actuation member which engages portions of the restraint member lying on opposite sides of a generally axial gap until deployment of the medical device is desired. Withdrawal of the actuation member allows the restraint member to release the medical device which may then return to a deployed state. The invention also provides a method for assembling a medical device deployment system.
US08444666B2	Retrievable filter A filter may have an apical hub and a plurality of divergent legs. A first attachment member may be separate from, but attached to the second end of at least one of the plurality of divergent legs. A second attachment member may be separate from, but attached to a stent. The first and second attachment members may be separate from, but attachable to one another to releasably attach the filter to the stent. One of the first attachment member and the second attachment member may include an attachment wire that is positioned in a lumen of a tubular member or one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member may comprise a cannula. In some implementations, an upward motion applied to the retrieval connection member may disengage at least one attachment wire of the first attachment member from the second attachment member.
US08444665B2	Filter flush system and methods of use A filter flush system for temporary placement of a filter in an artery or vein is disclosed. The system typically includes a guidewire insertable within a guiding catheter, which has an occlusion balloon disposed about its distal end. The guidewire has an expandable filter, which can be collapsed to pass through a lumen and distal port of the guiding catheter. The lumen is adapted to receive a variety of endovascular devices, including angioplasty, atherectomy, and stenting catheters. Fluid medium or blood can be infused through the lumen of the guiding catheter to flush embolic material or mobile plaque generated during the endovascular procedures toward the expanded filter deployed downstream from the region of interest. Methods of using the filter flush system to entrap and remove embolic material from the vessel are also disclosed.
US08444656B2	Tools and methods for harvesting follicular units Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tool is of a concentric tube configuration comprising first and second elongated bodies, in which the second elongated body can be retracted into the first elongated body. The tool may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. Distal fluid or gas delivery may supplement a vacuum in a luminal space to help extract biological units from surrounding tissue.
US08444653B2	Intramedullary rod implantation system A system for implanting a prosthetic device with an opening into a bone includes a plug that is removably received within the opening of the prosthetic device. The system also includes a bone removal tool that advances into the bone from outside the bone and that removes a portion of the bone while advancing into the bone to reveal the plug. The bone removal tool includes a plug engaging portion that engages with the plug. The bone removal tool at least partially removes the plug from the opening of the prosthetic device while engaged with the plug. Moreover, the system includes an alignment system that detects whether the bone removal tool and the plug are substantially axially aligned.
US08444652B2	Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligaments Apparatus for locating an attachment position for a reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament on an attachment surface of a bone comprises locating means (51, 61) arranged to locate at least one reference surface (4) of the bone and guide means (53, 54) arranged to define the attachment position in two dimensions on the attachment surface relative to the reference surface.
US08444646B2	Bone preparation tool kit and associated method A prosthesis (20) for use in performing joint arthroplasty is provided. The prosthesis (20) is to be fitted to a long bone (3). The prosthesis includes a first body (22) having a first body articulating surface (24) defining a generally circular outer periphery (26) of the first body articulating surface (24). The first body (22) has a support surface (28) opposed to the articulating surface (24). The support surface (28) is adapted to receive the head of the long bone (3). The prosthesis (20) also includes a second body (30) operably associated with the first body (22). The second body (30) has a second body articulating surface (32) extending from a portion of the circular outer periphery (26) of the first body articulating surface (24). A tool kit for preparing a humerus to receive a prosthesis is also disclosed.
US08444642B2	Laparoscopic nephrectomy device A laparoscopic nephrectomy device is disclosed. The device has an upper jaw and a lower jaw designed to clamp a portion of an organ, such as a kidney, so as to cut off blood flow locally to a portion of that organ. The upper jaw includes a mid-jaw piece and a top jaw piece, with each piece separately articulated. The mid-jaw piece is pivotably connected to the lower jaw. A top jaw piece is pivotably connected to the mid-jaw piece. The mid-jaw and top jaw pieces include a mechanism to fix the angular orientation of the mid-jaw and top jaw pieces with respect to one another, including a retractable slide piece that is carried by the mid-jaw piece and received in a slot in the top jaw piece. The jaws have insulated troughs that carry electrode structure for applying coagulative therapies.
US08444639B2	Coaxial catheter instruments for ablation with radiant energy A cardiac ablation instrument capable of removing blood from a treatment area is provided. The instrument includes a catheter configured to deliver a distal end thereof to a patient's heart. The instrument can also include an expandable element coupled to the distal end of the catheter wherein the expandable member is configured to be positioned adjacent a target area thereby defining a treatment area between the expandable member and the target area. Further, the instrument can include an irrigation mechanism configured to dispense an irrigation fluid from the catheter thereby displacing blood from the treatment area. Additionally, the instrument includes an energy emitter configured to deliver energy to tissue within the treatment area. The instrument can also include a contact sensor configured to determine the presence of such blood within the treatment area. Methods for ablating tissue are also provided.
US08444638B2	Hard tissue ablation system An electrosurgical system and method for treating hard and soft tissues in the body comprises a shaft, a distal end section, an active electrode associated with the distal end section, a first fluid supply adapted to deliver a first electrically conductive fluid to the target site, and a second fluid supply adapted to deliver a second electrically conductive fluid to the active electrode. The system is adapted to treat a wide variety of hard tissues such as, for example, bones, calcified structures, calcified deposits, teeth, plaque, kidney-stones, gall-stones and other types of tissue by generating plasma in the vicinity of the active electrode, and applying the plasma to the tissue or structures.
US08444635B2	Methods for selectively heating tissue The invention can selectively heat a diseased area or undesired tissue in the body while minimizing heating to the healthy area and surrounding tissue. This is done by exposing the undesired tissue to a scanning focused microwave beam arriving from different directions, all directions passing through the undesired tissue. The invention is particularly useful for heating tissues in which the undesired tissue has reduced blood flow. The undesired area will heat up rapidly while the healthy tissue will be cooled by the blood flow. This is particularly effective for treating emphysema because of the low mass of the lungs and the high blood flow.
US08444632B2	Method of performing refractive laser eye surgery centered along the visual axis of a human eye A method of performing refractive laser eye surgery on a human eye is provided wherein the ablation pattern is centered along the visual axis, rather than along the line of sight. First, a wavefront, either ocular, corneal or a combination thereof, is generated by a wavefront sensor centered along the line of sight. This measured wavefront is centered on and encompasses a patient's pupil. Then, an analysis pupil is determined which encompasses the measured pupil. The analysis pupil is centered along the visual axis at the point of intersection with the cornea. Consequently, the measured wavefront is reconstructed over the analysis pupil only using data taken over the area covered by the measured pupil. This reconstruction is done through a least squares fit of a series of slopes from the measured wavefront and/or through the transformation of aberration coefficients. Finally, an ablation pattern, or a lenticule generation pattern, to be performed by a refractive laser centered on the corneal intersect of the visual axis is produced in accordance with the reconstructed wavefront.
US08444630B2	Oxygen supply for cell transplant and vascularization Apparatus is provided, including a housing (22), configured for insertion into a body of a patient; a photosynthetic oxygen supply (24) configured to supply oxygen; and functional cells (30), coupled to the housing (22). The functional cells (30) are adapted to receive the oxygen and to secrete at least one factor that induces vascularization in a vicinity of the housing (22) when the housing (22) is in the body of the patient. Other embodiments are also described.
US08444629B2	Medical handpiece with automatic power switching means A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.
US08444620B2	Method and apparatus for application of a fluid A method and apparatus for separation, concentration, and/or applying a biological or bio-engineered fluid. Generally, the fluid application device includes a sprayer body to enable the application of the fluid and a container adaptable to enable the separation of the fluid into at least a first component and a second component. The container is releasably coupled to the nozzle. The nozzle is adapted to withdraw at least one of the first component or the second component from the container after the fluid has been separated to apply the fluid to a selected site.
US08444616B1	Ejaculate collection system A generally cylindrical housing having interior and exterior surfaces has open front and open back ends separated by an axial length. An open cell polyurethane foam sleeve has a flat face positionable adjacent to the interior surface of the housing and an undulating face adjacent to the central axis of the housing.
US08444611B2	Negative pressure wound treatment dressing A wound treatment dressing for applying negative pressure wound therapy to a wound on an extremity, such as on the heel of a foot. The dressing includes a fluid manifold positioned within a fenestrated drape to form a contoured occlusive wrapping. A contoured porous pad is placed adjacent or within the wound, and is covered by the occlusive wrapping. Flexible tubing is attached to or through a port to allow fluid communication of negative pressure to the contoured pad from a source of negative pressure. The negative pressure is communicated from the source, through the tube, through the fluid manifold, and through the fenestrations of the occlusive wrapping, to the wound. The fluid manifold conducts the negative pressure from a position away from the wound site to the contoured pad at the wound site.
US08444609B2	Implantable therapeutic substance delivery system with catheter access port block and method of use A system including an implantable delivery device having a housing, a reservoir, fill and catheter access ports, and a denial device. The housing maintains the fill port in fluid communication with the reservoir. The catheter access port includes a septum between an inlet and a well. The denial device includes a pin, a biasing element, and a solenoid. The pin is arranged to be movable between a first position in which the pin blocks passage of a needle into the well and a second position, with the biasing element biasing the pin to the first position. The solenoid is operatively coupled to the pin and provides an energized and de-energized states; in the energized state, the solenoid moves the pin from the first position to the second position to permit access to the well. An external controller effectuating clinician control over operation of the denial device is also provided.
US08444608B2	Robust catheter tubing A balloon catheter having a multilayer catheter shaft is formed to have an inner layer and an outer layer, where the inner layer and outer layer are selected from materials that enhance the pushability of the catheter while preserving the flexibility. Using a combination of a high Shore D duromater value material and a lower Shore D duromater value material, various combinations of multilayer catheter shafts are disclosed utilizing different glass transition temperatures and block copolyamides to obtain the desired characteristics.
US08444603B2	Anchor systems and methods Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) and secures the instrument in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some circumstances, the anchor device may allow the anchor device to be used after medical instrument is already in place without the need for a second penetration point for the anchor device.
US08444601B2	Suction flow regulator A suction flow regulator including an adapter and a grommet fixed inside the adapter for permitting air to access a vacuum flow path according to a vacuum level. The grommet is fixed inside an adapter by a securing mechanism (for example, a compression plate). The grommet may be used with an additional elastomeric element (for example, a smaller grommet) that provides flexibility during vacuum exposure and deflects to expose holes in the grommet under vacuum. Alternatively, the grommet may be a single unit grommet with a cantilever configuration.
US08444597B2	Reconstituting infusion device A system and method for a patch-like, self-contained multi-component substance infusion device which provides one or more substantially hidden patient needles which can be placed in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir assembly that includes a rigid bladder portion used in conjunction with a non-distensible bladder film, such as a metallized film. The device can be attached to a skin surface via an adhesive contact and a pressurization system provides a pressure to the contents of a fluid reservoir assembly. Improvements to dry powdered formulations for reconstitution for preferred use in the device are also disclosed.
US08444596B2	Breast milk collection apparatus and components thereof A breast milk collection apparatus includes a milk collection bottle, a breast shield, and a suction transfer assembly for mounting on the bottle. The suction transfer assembly includes a housing for connecting to the vacuum pump and the breast shield. Included in the suction transfer housing is a reversible diaphragm made of a deformable elastomeric material configured with a spiral undulatory configuration. The breast shield includes a unitary funnel member from a relatively rigid polymer as well as an annular deformable lip for enhanced comfort. In one preferred construction, a pump enclosure defines a well for receiving a bottle with deformable gripping projections which adapt to changes in bottle size.
US08444587B2	Fluid and air handling in blood and dialysis circuits An air purging method includes: (a) detecting a low fluid level in a blood circuit indicating a high amount of air in the blood circuit; (b) stopping a blood pump; (c) closing a venous patient line; (d) opening a blood circuit air vent valve and a drain valve; and (e) running the blood pump to meter air through the air vent valve and the drain valve to a drain.
US08444585B2	Catheter needle retention and placement monitoring system and method A blood access device includes (i) a first layer, a bottom surface of the first layer including (a) an adhesive or (b) a hook and loop material for securing the first layer to a patient, a first conductive attachment material located at a top surface of the first layer; (ii) a first conductor contacting the first conductive attachment material; (iii) a second layer, a second conductive attachment material located at a bottom surface of the second layer, the first and second conductive attachment materials configured to be releasably secured to each other; (iv) a second conductor contacting the second conductive attachment material; and (v) a blood vessel access member carried by the second layer.
US08444581B1	Thermal compression therapy apparatus and system A combined heating, cooling, and compression therapy system is provided. The system is configured for automated use with a controller. The system can have a core with separate channels for providing cold and heat and compression therapy; a cover for receiving the core; and a skin sensitive temperature node attached to the core cover.
US08444580B2	Passive exercise assisting device A housing is adapted to be placed on a floor and is provided on its top face with a left foot support 2a and a right foot supports 2b respectively bearing left and right feet of a user. A drive unit 3 is provided to displace the left and right foot supports 2a and 2b in a mutually linked manner. The drive unit 3 is configured to reciprocate the left and right foot supports 2a and 2b in a forward/rearward direction respectively along individual travel paths La, Lb, while varying a lateral distance between said left and right foot supports with regard to representative points of the left and right foot supports. The lateral distance between forward ends of the travel paths is made greater than the lateral distance between rearward ends of the travel paths.
US08444576B2	Blood test apparatus having blood sensor A blood test apparatus has a housing, a blood sensor, and a plurality of connectors. The blood sensor has a plurality of connection terminals that are electrically connected with each electrode of the electrode system; and a reference terminal that serves as a reference. The plurality of connectors are configured to connect to the plurality of connection terminals and the reference terminal of the blood sensor attached at a predetermined position in the blood test apparatus, respectively. And also, relations between the reference terminal and each of the plurality of connection terminals are measured to identify the reference terminal automatically.
US08444575B2	Marker for readings taken from alternative site tests A meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample comprises a memory device, electrical circuitry and a detection device for distinguishing between an alternative site test and a standard site test. The memory device is adapted to store information. The electrical circuitry is adapted to determine the analyte concentration of the fluid sample located on a test sensor. The electrical circuitry is in electronic communication with the memory device. The electrical circuitry communicates the determined analyte concentration to the memory device for storage.
US08444574B2	Lancing system for the extraction of a body fluid Lancing system comprising a needle and a lancing device The lancing device comprises a housing with a housing opening that is surrounded by a housing skin contact surface. A lancing depth reference element with a reference skin contact surface is adapted in such a manner that the reference skin contact surface at a reversal point of the lancing movement is in contact with the skin. The lancing depth is determined by the distance between the reference skin contact surface and the tip of the needle element at the reversal point of the lancing movement. The lancing depth reference element is in a stationary defined position relative to the reversal point of the lancing movement. The lancing depth reference element is adapted to stabilize the skin when pressed against the reference skin contact surface with respect to a skin deformation which occurs upon lancing of the skin.
US08444570B2	Signal processing techniques for aiding the interpretation of respiration signals According to embodiments, a respiration signal may be processed to normalize respiratory feature values in order to improve and/or simplify the interpretation and subsequent analysis of the signal. Data indicative of a signal may be received at a sensor and may be used to generate a respiration signal. Signal peaks in the respiration signal may be identified and signal peak thresholds may be determined. The identified signal peaks may be adjusted based on the signal peak threshold values to normalize the respiration signal.
US08444563B2	Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus for generation of image data based on harmonic wave components of ultrasound reception signals. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmission/reception control unit configured to set a plurality of ultrasound transmission/reception directions to an object, an ultrasound probe, a transmission/reception unit, a harmonic wave component extracting unit configured to extract harmonic wave components in the reception signals, a reception signals processing unit, a subtraction unit configured to perform a subtraction between different ultrasound data sets, and an image data generating unit configured to generate the image data based on the subtracted ultrasound data acquired along each of the transmission/reception directions.
US08444562B2	System and method for treating muscle, tendon, ligament and cartilage tissue A method and system for treating subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy is disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Certain procedures can include a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and treatment of cartilage tissue.
US08444560B2	Method and apparatus for providing data processing and control in a medical communication system Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in a medical communication system are provided.
US08444554B2	Floatable in vivo sensing device and method for use The invention relates to an in vivo sensing device having a specific gravity of about 1 or a volume to weight ratio that enables it essentially to float. In one embodiment the in vivo sensing device consists of an image sensor system and a buoyant body. The buoyant body, which is attached to the sensor system or which can optionally house one or more elements of the sensor system, keeps the sensor system essentially floating in a body lumen liquid.
US08444549B2	Self-steering endoscopic device An endoscopic device including mechanisms to facilitate insertion of the device is disclosed. The device includes a sensing assembly configured for determining the position of the distal end of the device relative to a lumen. The device may further including a steering mechanism configured to direct the distal end of the device. A controller may be operably connected to the sensing assembly and the steering mechanism. The controller may be incorporated into the endoscopic device. Alternately, the controller may be positioned remote of the endoscopic device.
US08444546B2	Fecal incontinence device, system and method A device for treating fecal incontinence in a subject is provided. The device includes a plug configured for positioning mostly within an anal canal of the subject.
US08444545B2	Dual-pulsation bi-ventricular assist device A ventricular assist device is disclosed which comprises a sac for wrapping around a portion of a heart, the sac having one or more inflatable chambers for compressing the heart when the chambers being inflated and a blood outlet made to an aorta, the blood outlet being the sole opening in the human blood path in the vicinity of heart, wherein during a systolic phase the inflatable chambers inflate while blood flows out of the aorta through the blood outlet, and during a diastolic phase the inflatable chambers deflate while blood flows into the aorta through the blood outlet.
US08444544B1	Device and method for intensity modulated brachytherapy A radiation modulator is used with a low energy source for breast brachytherapy using a balloon-like catheter. The clinical evaluation of the patient determines the modulator's optimal configuration so as to produce a non-uniform dose distribution to avoid healthy tissue. This modulation may range from a few percent to many tens of percent. A modulating member having predetermined dimensions and materials, i.e., length, width, thickness, is attached to a catheter in close proximity to the intended location of the radioactive source. The modulating member, for example, may be shaped as a rectangular plate, an oval plate or such and be attachable to a catheter.
US08444543B2	Apparatus and computing device for performing brachytherapy and methods of imaging using the same An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume is provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures volume data from the target volume. A computing device is in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving the volume data and determining the distribution of the selected therapy in the target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using the volume data. At least one of the needle trajectories is oblique to at least one other of the planned needle trajectories.
US08444540B2	Pressure reducing folding system that adapts to booklet thickness A device for folding sheets of a medium into a booklet is provided. The device includes a frame; a cam mechanism attached to the frame; a lever attached to the frame, the lever being actuated by the cam mechanism; a first scissor arm attached to the frame, the first scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of first rolls, one of the first rolls being movable by the first scissor arm; a second scissor arm attached to the frame, the second scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of second rolls, one of the second rolls being movable by the second scissor arm; a crease blade for contacting the sheets to create a crease in the sheets; and a controller that controls a position of the crease blade, a gap between the pair of first rolls, and a gap between the pair of second rolls.
US08444530B2	Automatic transmission system and hydraulic control device and method thereof An automatic transmission system includes a transmission having transmission elements with lubrication-requiring portions and hydraulic actuators therefor, a switching valve that supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuators, a valve actuator that actuates the switching valve, a shift range detection unit that detects a selected shift range of the transmission, and a control unit that controls the valve actuator to actuate the switching valve in accordance with the selected transmission shift range. The switching valve has a bypass position to provide a supply of the hydraulic fluid to the lubrication-requiring portions by bypassing a transmission oil cooler. The control unit judges whether the transmission is in a low lubrication state based on a given operating parameter of the transmission and controls the valve actuator to switch the switching valve to the bypass position at the time the transmission is judged as being in the low lubrication state.
US08444529B2	Hydraulic pressure control apparatus for vehicle with automatic transmission A hydraulic control apparatus including a cut valve disposed in a hydraulic circuit, a hydraulic storage device connected to the hydraulic circuit through the cut valve, a stroke amount detecting means for detecting an amount of a piston stroke in the hydraulic storage device, and a control means for discharging a hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic storage device to the hydraulic circuit upon restarting an engine from the idling stop, wherein the control means is configured to open the cut valve upon restarting the engine and, after opening the cut valve, close the cut valve in a case where a change in the detected amount of a stroke of the piston is reversed from such a direction as to discharge the hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic storage device to such a direction as to supply the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic storage device.
US08444528B2	Method for operating a drive train A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.
US08444520B2	Gear device A gear device has an outer cylinder fixed to a first mating member and a crankshaft inside the outer cylinder. An external gear is mounted to an eccentric portion of the crankshaft and meshes with internal teeth of the outer cylinder. A carrier is fixed to a second mating member. Rocking rotation of the external gear rotates the carrier coaxially to the outer cylinder. A cylindrical body is inserted in an axial through-hole of the carrier. The carrier has a first portion on one end of the cylindrical body and a second portion on an axially intermediate portion of the cylindrical body. The other end of the cylindrical body extends toward a corresponding mating member while protruding axially beyond the second portion. An outer diameter of remaining portions of the cylindrical body do not exceed an outermost diameter of the portion on which the first and second portions are fit.
US08444511B2	Table tennis safety lock A table tennis table with a safety latch includes: a table tennis table having a left panel and a right panel; a left leg swivel attached to the left panel; a right leg swivel attached to the right panel; a middle frame having vertical support members; and a safety latch installed on a vertical support member. The safety latch includes: a lock arm; a hook mounted to the lock arm; a spring biasing the lock arm and the hook to a closed position; and a shaft passing through the vertical support member. The lock arm is pivotally mounted to the shaft.
US08444508B2	Golf balls comprising highly- and partially-neutralized alternate copolymers A golf ball includes a core having a diameter, a first Shore D hardness and a compression; and a cover having a second Shore D hardness that is at least 5 points less than the first Shore D hardness. The cover includes an ionomer of an alternate copolymer, the alternate copolymer being formed from the reaction product of a copolymer of ethylene and maleic anhydride monomer in the presence of a suitable base, the maleic anhydride monomer being present in an amount of about 78 wt %.
US08444501B2	Set of golf clubs The present invention relates to a set of at least three golf clubs having different club length Lk. The golf clubs 14; 20 comprises a shaft 21 with an upper end and a lower end, a grip section 22 on the upper end of the shaft, and a head 23; 30; 40 with a ball-striking surface mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The club length Lk of each golf club decreasing through the set and a value 61, 65, 75; 62, 66, 76; 63,67,77; 64, 68; 78 of at least one torsional moment PCF; HCF; ICF; GCF for each of the at least three golf clubs when swung by a golfer differs from each other. A linear function 71, 72, 73, 74 of club length Lk is based on the values of at least one torsional moment.
US08444499B2	Method and system for shot tracking A system and method for shot tracking disclosed herein. The system preferably includes a golf club and a receiver. The golf club preferably includes an active RFID transponder, a power source, a switch and an accelerometer.
US08444496B2	Lateral dynamic simulation device A lateral dynamic simulation device includes a positioning platform (1), a motor mechanism (2) and a carriage (3). The positioning platform (1) has an upright positioned arm (10). The motor mechanism (2) has multiple degrees of freedom and comprises a base (20), a platform (21) and a plurality of stretchable bars (22) to join the base (20) and the platform (21) by the universal joints (220). The carriage (3) has a space (30) at the frontal portion for carrying passengers and a back portion (31) at the rear portion. The base (20) of the motor mechanism (2) is fixed to the arm (10) of the positioning platform (1) and the platform (21) of the motor mechanism (2) is fixed to the back portion (31) of the carriage (3).
US08444495B2	Cross groove type constant velocity joint A constant velocity joint for a drive system includes an outer joint member and an inner joint member, each having a plurality of ball grooves, the ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves of a skewed groove shape with a first skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of the outer and inner joint members, and a second group of grooves of a skewed groove shape with a second skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of the outer and inner joint members, the second skew angle less than the first skew angle. In addition to the differentiated skew angles, the contact angles of the balls in the first and second group of grooves may also be differentiated.
US08444493B2	Presenting and controlling wagering game information A network browser and wagering game toolbar (“toolbar”) are described herein. The network browser has a main display area that can display content. The toolbar can be in, or a part of, the network browser. The network browser and the toolbar can receive and display content. Specifically, the toolbar can receive and display wagering game content from a wagering game network as the main display area can receive and display content originating outside the wagering game network. In some embodiments, the toolbar can present content originating from one or more wagering game player accounts that provide audience participation in, or related to, wagering game activity presented on the toolbar.
US08444491B2	Clan wars A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. An incentive reward is generated that is to be provided to at least one member of a group of users of a game networking system based on the group exercising a level of influence over a location during a time period that is greater than a level of influence of an additional group of users over the location during the time period. It is determined that the group exercised the level of influence over the location during the time period. The incentive reward is provided to the at least one member of the group based on the determining that the level of influence exercised by the group is greater than the level of influence of the additional group over the location during the time period.
US08444487B2	Game device, game device control method, program, and information storage medium Provided is a game device capable of preventing a subject to be operated from performing an action that is not intended by a player. The game device (10) executes a game configured such that at least one of the subject to be operated by the player and a plurality of objects or characters moves within a game space. Numerical value information acquiring means (51) acquires numerical value information corresponding to a motion of the player. Control means (52) causes the subject to be operated to perform an action for dealing with a first object or a first character in a case where the numerical value information satisfies a condition. Condition changing means (55) changes the condition based on a position of at least one of the subject to be operated and the object or the character. The condition changing means (55) makes a setting so that the numerical value information is less likely to satisfy the condition for a case where the object or the character to be subsequently dealt with by the subject to be operated is a second object or a second character, compared to the condition for a case where the object or the character to be subsequently dealt with by the subject to be operated is the first object or the first character.
US08444483B2	Presenting and controlling wagering game marketing information A browser application and toolbar are described according to some embodiments. The browser application presents wagering game content in a toolbar. Some embodiments are directed to determining that a first player account uses the toolbar to access the wagering game content, determining that a second player account referred the first player account in response to determination that the first player account uses the toolbar, and providing a referral award to the second player account for referring the first player account.
US08444482B2	Wagering game with dual-play feature Multi-player games that foster cooperation or competition between players. A multi-player wagering game system includes a first display to display a first wagering game; a first input device corresponding to the first display to accept input from a first player; a second display to display a second wagering game, the second display being adjacent to the first display; a second input device corresponding to the second display to accept input from a second player; and a bonus display to display a bonus game. The bonus game receiving input from both the first and the second input devices. Computer software causes the first wagering game and the second wagering game to be executed. A multi-person seating device is configured to permit the first player and the second player to sit side-by-side in front of the first display and the second display, respectively.
US08444481B2	Method and apparatus for providing electronic credits at a gaming device without first requiring payment therefor In accordance with some embodiments, apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing electronic credits to a player of a gaming device. The electronic credits are provided in response to an occurrence of an event other than an outcome of a game play. Further, the electronic credits are provided without requiring the player to first provide payment therefore. In some, the number of electronic credits may be determined based on information associated with at least one of the player, the gaming device, and a casino associated with the gaming device. In some embodiments, the an offer for the electronic credits is output to the player at the gaming device and the electronic credits are added to a credit meter balance of the gaming device upon the player's acceptance of the offer. In some embodiments, the player is required to provide a payment for the electronic credits at a time subsequent to the time at which the electronic credits are provided to the player.
US08444477B2	Symbol display device for game machine A slot machine includes a reel assembly which has a transparent outer reel and a translucent inner reel disposed coaxially within the outer reel. The outer and inner reels are provided with first exterior surfaces on their periphery, and with second exterior surfaces on their side surfaces. The outer and inner reels are driven independently by a respective motor. In performing a first game, the side surfaces are horizontal so that first outer symbols and first inner symbols carried on each of the first exterior surfaces may be observable. In performing a second game, the side surfaces are perpendicular so that second outer symbols and second inner symbols carried on each of the second exterior surfaces may be observable. Symbol combinations are produced by synthesizing the symbols on the outer reel and the symbols on the inner reel.
US08444475B2	Method of reimbursement for bonus games of slot machines A method of reimbursement for a bonus game adopted for slot machines. It is executed when a bonus game is finished. The method includes steps of: executing a reimbursement judgment module, executing a reimbursement game module, executing a win judgment module and executing a score calculation module. The reimbursement judgment module judges whether a player has reached a set threshold in the bonus game, and repeatedly executes the reimbursement game module until reaching the set threshold to accumulate bonus game scores. After the win judgment module has judged that a reimbursement set threshold is reached, stop execution of the reimbursement game module. Finally, the score calculation module calculates the bonus game scores and stops the bonus game. The method assures the player to earn a certain profit in the bonus game to satisfy the expectation and increase the excitation, and attracts the player to play the slot machine.
US08444474B2	Wagering game with accumulation-bonus feature that is played upon player's selection A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an accumulation-bonus feature which allows a player to cache awards to a bonus object. A player selects when to use the bonus object in a secondary playfield to enhance the cached awards.
US08444473B2	Gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method for shifting symbols from a staging area to a symbol matrix A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.
US08444472B2	Casino games and methods of play for a casino gaming machine Casino games and methods having a set of objects displayed in a screen of a casino gaming machine. Each object has a randomly assigned attribute from a corresponding set of attributes. The casino gaming machine receives the player's input for each of a predetermined number of objects in the set. When selected, a symbol corresponding to the hidden attribute is displayed. After each input, the remaining attributes of the remaining objects not selected are randomly reassigned to each unselected object before the player selects the next object.
US08444471B2	Gaming system and method for providing bingo wins A gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines and a continual game sequence including a plurality of symbols and a plurality of sessions. Each session includes a number of games. At the beginning of a game sequence, the gaming system draws all of the symbols. When the number of games of the current session has been played without a winner, the game sequence proceeds to the next session. For each session, the gaming system activates a number of the drawn symbols based on the session number. Upon player activation, a gaming machine generates a symbol subset, marking each symbol in the subset which matches the activated symbols. If the marked symbols match a predetermined pattern, the gaming system provides an award for a player, basing the award on an award pool amount and the session number. As the session number increases, the award provided to the player decreases.
US08444469B2	Method for playing a lottery game having a redemption chain with an enhanced prize A method is provided for implementing a Digital Gate enabled lottery game wherein players are offered the chance to increase the prize value of a ticket by linking subsequently purchased tickets in a chain. Lottery tickets are provided for players, wherein each lottery ticket includes a unique validation code and play of the game enabled by the lottery ticket may result in a prize within a given prize structure. For winning plays of one of the lottery tickets, consumers are provided an option to redeem the ticket for the prize or to register and designate the winning lottery ticket as part of a chain. The player may enhance the prize associated with the first ticket in the chain by subsequent registration of an additional lottery ticket wherein, upon being registered, the additionally registered tickets in the chain may or may-not be individually redeemed. In the event that the first additional ticket in a chain enhances the prize of the original ticket, the consumer is provided with the option to redeem the original ticket for the enhanced prize or to register additional lottery tickets in a chain. The Digital Gate enabled games also provide for calculating the Expected Value (EV) of games with dynamic prize values.
US08444459B2	Device and method for scalding poultry The invention relates to a device for scalding poultry, comprising: a processing space provided with transport means for carrying the poultry for processing through the processing space, a conditioning space connecting to the processing space for composing a conditioning medium, and displacing means for displacing the conditioning medium from the conditioning space to the processing space. The invention also relates to a method for scalding poultry.
US08444458B2	Plasma treated abrasive article and method of making same An abrasive article, such as a structured abrasive article, can be treated by subjecting it to plasma whereby the outer surface can be eroded exposing at least a portion of the abrasive particles dispersed within a cross-linked binder forming the abrasive composites. Depending on the process conditions for the plasma treatment, it is possible to erode only a small portion or substantially all of the cross-linked binder from the outer surface. Thus, the initial cut-rate of the abrasive article can be controlled since it is possible to precisely control the degree, height, or area of the exposed abrasive particles.
US08444455B2	Polishing pad and method for polishing a semiconductor wafer A semiconductor wafer is polished, wherein in a first step, the rear side of the wafer is polished by a polishing pad comprising fixedly bonded abrasives having a grain size of 0.1-1.0 μm, while supplying a polishing agent free of solid materials having a pH of at least 11.8, and, in a second step, the front side of the semiconductor wafer is polished, wherein a polishing agent having a pH of less than 11.8 is supplied. A polishing pad for use in apparatuses for polishing semiconductor wafers, has a layer containing abrasives, a layer composed of a stiff plastic and also a compliant, non-woven layer, wherein the layers are bonded to one another by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive layers.
US08444453B2	Device and method for fine or finest processing of a rotationally symmetric work piece surface A device for fine or finest processing of a rotationally symmetric work piece surface of a work piece (14), with a drive mechanism (12) for driving the work piece (14) around an axis of rotation (16), two guidance mechanisms (20, 22) acting in radial directions with respect to the axis of rotation (16) and at least one tool (38) acting in a radial direction, and a pressing mechanism (42) for pressing the work piece (14) against the drive mechanism (12), wherein the work piece (14) can be disposed between the drive mechanism (12) and the pressing mechanism (42). The pressing mechanism (42) acts in a pressing plane (74) that is offset from the axis of rotation (16) towards a space (78) in which the guidance mechanisms (20, 22) are disposed.
US08444450B2	Method for alternately expressing color-memorizing photochromic function in toy element, and an alternately color-memorizing photochromic toy A toy comprises a toy element comprising a photochromic layer which contains a photochromic compound having a photo memory function (color-memorizing photochromic property), maintains a coloring state by developing a color through the irradiation of ultraviolet rays or sunlight containing ultraviolet rays and changes into decolorizing state through its decolorization by the irradiation of visible light, and a color-changing means which contains at least one of an ultraviolet ray absorbent and a light-shading pigment capable of shading at least ultraviolet rays, changes the photochromic compound of the coloring state into decolorizing state by cutting off ultraviolet rays of sunlight and thereby effecting irradiation of visible light, and maintains the changed state, wherein a function to memorize and maintain coloring and decolorizing states alternately is expressed by arranging the color-changing means under such a condition that it is contacted or non-contacted with the photochromic layer.
US08444449B2	Amusement apparatus and method featuring magnetic beads An amusement apparatus comprises a plurality of magnetic beads sized for receipt in one or both hands of a user and a bead receiving surface onto which the magnetic beads are to be thrown. The thrown beads are allowed to cluster together so that a shape or indicator formed by the clustered beads can be visually recognized for drawing of meaning therefrom. The surface may include markings or indicia of which one is individually indicated after a throw by clustering of the beads proximate that marking. The markings may include letters for spelling of words by multiple throws of the beads or symbols associated with respective meanings that may be applied to the thrower of the beads.
US08444447B2	Outboard motor An outboard motor includes an engine, an exhaust guide, and a catalyst. The engine includes a cylinder and crankshaft. The crankshaft is disposed along a vertical direction. The exhaust guide is arranged to support the engine from below. The catalyst is disposed in an interior of the engine. The engine includes a cylinder body. The cylinder body includes a housing portion arranged to house the catalyst. The cylinder body includes a first exhaust passage that includes an interior of the housing portion. The catalyst is inserted into the housing portion from below and is sandwiched from above and below by the housing portion and the exhaust guide.
US08444445B2	Coaxial cable connector having electrical continuity member A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body a post engageable with connector body, wherein the post includes a flange, a coupling member, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the coupling member having a first end, an opposing second end portion, and an internal lip, a continuity member disposed only axially rearward of a surface of the internal lip of the coupling member that faces the flange, an outer sleeve engageable with the coupling member, the sleeve configured to rotate the coupling member, and a compression portion structurally integral with the connector body, wherein the compression portion is configured to break apart from the body when axially compressed is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US08444444B2	Connector A connector (A) is provided with a housing (10) made of synthetic resin, press-fit holes (13) formed through the housing (10) and each having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and terminal fittings (20) to be inserted into the press-fit holes (13). Each terminal fitting (20) has a first press-fit portion (25) with a substantially rectangular cross-section and brings two substantially parallel flat areas (26) into surface contact with the inner wall of the press-fit hole (13) in a fluid- or liquid-tight manner. The first press-fit portion (25) has first and second bulges (27A, 27B) that locally bulge in forward and backward directions parallel to the two flat areas over the entire areas in a width direction connecting the two flat areas (26) and press the inner wall of the press-fit hole (13) in a fluid- or liquid-tight manner.
US08444440B2	Connector A connector which makes it possible to facilitate the operation of mounting the connector, and reduce the mounting costs. An upper insulating film is affixed to upper surfaces of first and second contacts, and upper surfaces of carriers. Then, the first and second contacts, are disconnected from the carriers. Finally, a lower insulating film is affixed to lower surfaces of the first and second contacts, and lower surfaces of the carriers.
US08444427B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector including a housing having first and second portions opposite to each other and provided on the second portion with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted in the housing along a direction extending toward the first portion and a mounting member fixed to the housing, wherein the mounting member comprises a base portion, a board connecting portion provided on the base portion to be connected with a solid circuit board which the first portion of the housing faces closely, an arm portion extending from the base portion into the housing, a locking portion provided on the arm portion for engaging with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing through the opening provided thereon to hold the same, and a manipulatable portion provided on the arm portion for protruding from the second portion of the housing to the outside of the housing, and the locking portion is operative to disengage from engagement with the flat circuit device when the manipulatable portion is manipulated under a condition wherein the locking portion is put in the engagement with the flat circuit device.
US08444426B1	Lamp holder connector A lamp holder connector includes a lamp box and at least one pair of lamp bases assembled to the lamp box. The lamp box includes a first upper holder, at least one pair of first lower holders assembled to the first upper holder, and at least one pair of first terminals received in the lamp box. Each side of the first upper holder defines an elastic portion. An outer face of each elastic portion defines at least one fastening portion. Each lamp base includes a second upper holder assembled to the first lower holder, a second lower holder assembled to the second upper holder, and a second terminal received in the second lower holder. At least one side of the second upper holder defines a receiving groove for receiving the elastic portion. A sidewall of the receiving groove defines at least one fastening hole for buckling the fastening portion.
US08444418B1	Methods, systems, kits and computer usable media for simulating financial transactions A method of teaching personal financial skills to a student includes providing a balance of simulated funds within a simulated bank account. Simulated bills are transmitted to a student on a periodic basis via at least one of a courier and an electronic transmission, wherein at least some of the simulated bills are transmitted on different dates and impose different due dates. Simulated payments are received from a student corresponding to the simulated bills via at least one of a courier and an electronic transmission. The simulated payments are processed upon receipt and the balance of the simulated funds is reconciled within the simulated bank account to reflect the simulated payments. A computer usable media having encoded thereon a computer implemented method for simulating financial transactions is also provided. System and kits are also provided.
US08444416B2	Valves for personal care devices Dual valves are described herein. The dual valves have a plurality of lumens disposed within a unitary body. The dual valves can be used, for example, in personal care products such as toothbrushes and razors to dispense fluids such as dentifrice and shaving aids.
US08444415B2	Dental measurement apparatus and system An apparatus for measuring mandibular position is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first slide operable to adjustably couple to a second slide, such that the second slide is operable to travel in a direction substantially parallel to a long axis of the first slide, and an indicator configured to indicate a location of the second slide relative to the first slide in the direction substantially parallel to the long axis of the first slide. The apparatus further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the first slide and the second slide, the adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the distance between the first slide and the second slide in a direction substantially orthogonal to the long axis of the first slide.
US08444414B2	Orthodontic buccal tube Provided is an orthodontic buccal tube, which is capable of preventing glue from flowing out towards a boundary between a tooth (300) and a base (100), being firmly attached to a face of the tooth (300), and being easily removed from the face of the tooth (300) after being used. The orthodontic buccal tube is attached to the face of the tooth (300) by the glue (400), and includes a base (100) having a bonding face (110) on one side of the buccal tube, a body (200) having a slot (210) into which an archwire is inserted in the middle of the body (200) on a side opposite the base, and a glue anti-outflow step (120) formed along an outer circumference of the bonding face (110) at a predetermined height in a closed loop. The glue anti-outflow step (120) prevents the glue (400) applied to the bonding face (110) from flowing out towards a boundary between the base (100) and the tooth (300).
US08444412B2	Anchor apparatus for clear plastic orthodontic appliance systems and the like Anchor apparatus for a flexible and resilient clear orthodontic appliance constructed to be removably fitted over the teeth of a user by friction in a predetermined position. One or more first anchor devices are secured to the bone in the mouth of the user in a position to be adjacent to the orthodontic appliance when fitted over the teeth. The orthodontic appliance is constructed to removably engage the first anchor device or devices when the orthodontic appliance is fitted on the teeth in the predetermined position to removably secure the orthodontic device in the predetermined position. The orthodontic appliance may comprise one or more second anchor devices mounted thereon for removable engagement with the first anchor devices. The first and second anchor devices comprise female recessed portions or male heads that are complementary in shape to facilitate the removable engagement thereof.
US08444411B2	Incinerator for boil-off gas An incinerator (20) for disposing of boil-off gas on an LNG carrier comprises a combustion section (40) wherein the boil-off gas admitted at (42) is burned in the presence of combustion air admitted at (44), producing a flame (46) and combustion products (C). Dilution air (A) is delivered into the combustion section (40) and mixed with the combustion products (C) to produce a diluted mixture (M). The combustion section (40) has an inner wall (48) and an outer wall (50) together defining a first passage (52) through which the dilution air (A) is passed before being mixed with the combustion products (C), whereby the dilution air A cools the combustion section (40). The dilution air A in the first passage (52) also provides a thermally insulting layer limiting radial heat transmission from the combustion section (40). A proportion (AP) of the dilution air is mixed directly with the combustion products (C).
US08444409B2	Ejector apparatus with additional ejector force An ejector apparatus for an injection molding machine, includes ejector pins mounted to a movable ejector plate and drivable by a drive device for ejecting injection molded parts from a cavity of an injection molding tool. The ejector plate is displaceable by the drive device with a given normal ejector force acting on an injection molded part. There is provided a reinforcing mechanism which, when there is a jammed injection molded part, reinforces the ejector force acting on the injection molded part to an increased additional ejector force for ejecting the jammed injection molded part above the given normal ejector force which can be or is made available by the drive device.
US08444407B2	Installation for applying glue to fibers for the production of fiberboard The invention relates to an installation for applying glue to fibers for the production of fiberboard, especially MDF board or similar wood material board. Said installation comprises a fiber feed unit having at least one fiber feed conduit which opens into a fiber exit tube via a fiber deflection element and receives the air that is used to transport the fibers, a chute which is located downstream of the fiber exit tube, a glue application device which has spray nozzles for spraying the fibers that emerge from the fiber exit tube and enter the chute with drops of glue, and a collection device, located downstream of the chute and having an air-permeable transport belt for collecting and optionally carrying off the fibers and a suction device located below the transport belt for suctioning air from the chute through the transport belt, the suction device having one or more suction boxes to which one or more suction pipes are connected. The installation is characterized in that the suction boxes are configured as cleaning boxes having at least one cleaning device for removing fibers that enter the suction boxes through the transport belt.
US08444401B2	Check valve and piston pump having check valve A check valve for arranging between a first pressure chamber, in which a first pressure prevails, and a second pressure chamber in which a second pressure prevails. The valve comprises a valve housing on which a valve seat is formed, and comprises a blocking element which is designed in a blocking position, to close a valve opening in the region of the valve seat, in order to block a connection between the first and the second valve chambers, and is designed in an open position to release the valve opening in order to release the connection between the first and the second valve chambers. The valve seat is configured as an oblique surface, which relative to the flow direction is aligned at an angle which is greater than 15° and less than 80°. The blocking element comprises a planar blocking lobe made from an elastically deformable material which in the blocking position bears against the oblique surface, and in the open position lifts away from the oblique surface in order to release the connection.
US08444400B2	Hydraulic cylinder having piston-mounted bypass valve A hydraulic cylinder is disclosed. The hydraulic cylinder may have a tube, and a piston disposed within the tube and having a bore passing through the piston. The hydraulic cylinder may also have a valve element disposed within the bore and having a length shorter than a length of the bore. The valve element may be mechanically movable to allow fluid flow through the bore, and hydraulically movable to inhibit fluid flow through the bore.
US08444398B2	Pump manifold support A pump has a pump fluid end and a manifold that is detachable from the fluid end. A device is attachable to the pump, and has a manifold support beam portion adapted to affix to the pump fluid end at a location adjacent a manifold mating surface of the pump fluid end and extend outward from the pump fluid end. A support is provided on the manifold support beam portion that, when the manifold support beam portion is affixed to the fluid end of the pump, engages the manifold detached from the fluid end and supports the weight of the manifold.
US08444396B2	Fluid transferring system and micropump suitable therefor Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.
US08444388B2	System of counter-rotating propellers with a feathering device for propeller blades A system of counter-rotating propellers for an aircraft turbine engine including a first and a second propeller, each including a stalling control system for the blades, a rotating actuating mechanism for sliding an element to move the angle of attack of the blades, and a disengaging mechanism for rigidly fixing in rotation the rotating actuating mechanism. The system is designed so that when the disengaging mechanism is engaged, a relative rotation speed is created between the elements and the associated rotating actuating mechanism thereof, bringing the blades into a neutral position thereof for feathering.
US08444387B2	Seal plates for directing airflow through a turbine section of an engine and turbine sections A seal plate for directing an airflow includes a hub, main pumping vanes, and splitter vanes. The hub has a tubular section and an annular flange section flared outwardly relative to the tubular section to define a flow surface. The main pumping vanes are disposed circumferentially on the flow surface around the annular flange section and each has a canted section located radially inward relative to a straight section and aligned with a flow direction of the airflow. The straight section extends along a first plane including a centerline of the seal plate. The splitter vanes are disposed circumferentially on the flow surface around the annular flange section such that at least one splitter vane is disposed between the straight sections of two adjacent main pumping vanes. Each splitter vane has a length that is less than a length of each of the two adjacent main pumping vanes.
US08444384B2	Rotor blade assembly and method for adjusting loading capability of rotor blade A rotor blade assembly and a method for adjusting a loading capability of a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past a surface of the rotor blade. The spoiler assembly is incrementally deployable from the surface along one of a length or a width of the spoiler assembly.
US08444376B2	Cooled constructional element for a gas turbine A cooled constructional element for a gas turbine includes a wall having a front and a rear side. The front side is configured to be thermally loaded during operation of the turbine, and the rear side has a plurality of pins projecting therefrom in a two-dimensional distribution, the two-dimensional distribution including a higher density distribution of pins in a critical zone of the cooled constructional element than in the remaining regions of the cooled constructional element. A device is configured to create jets of a cooling medium that are directed onto the rear side of the wall in a region of the plurality of pins so as to cool the rear side of the wall by impingement.
US08444373B2	Cooling fan module A cooling fan module includes a first cooling fan pivotally connected with a second cooling fan. The second cooling fan is rotatable relative to the first cooling fan between a first state and a second state. The second cooling fan is located on the first cooling fan in the first state. The second cooling fan is located at a lateral side of the first cooling fan in the second state.
US08444371B2	Axially-oriented cellular seal structure for turbine shrouds and related method A seal system between a row of buckets supported on a machine rotor and a surrounding stationary casing or stator includes a tip shroud secured at radially outer tips of each of the buckets, the tip shroud formed with a radially-projecting rail. A cellular seal structure is supported in the stationary stator in radial opposition to the tip shroud and the rail. The seal structure has an annular array of individual cells formed to provide continuous, substantially horizontal flow passages devoid of any radial obstruction along substantially an entire axial length dimension of the cellular seal structure to prevent flow about the tip shroud from turning radially inwardly.
US08444369B2	System and method for unloading items A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.
US08444365B2	Roll off hoist with hinged tail and hydraulic reeving system A container handling system and method for a wheeled transport vehicle is disclosed that is capable of loading and unloading containers, particularly in locations where the overhead height is limited. A hinged tail member at the rear end of the elongated body (a/k/a tilt frame member) is rotated adjacent the ground allowing the containers to be loaded and unloaded without rotating the tilt frame to its maximum height. A cable reeving arrangement, such as a dual reeving arrangement, can be utilized to load and unload the containers.
US08444358B2	Wall anchor A wall anchor is provided and includes a nose cone structure including a body and a primary cone, which is rotatably coupled to the body and manually urgeable to penetrate a substrate, a detent assembly, disposed on the nose cone structure, which is engageable to maintain the primary cone in a first position and a trigger integrally coupled to the nose cone structure and actuatable to selectively disengage the detent assembly such that the primary cone is permissively rotatable about the body into a second position.
US08444355B2	Anchor stud and method of forming an anchor stud An anchor stud includes a stud portion including a body portion having a first end that extends to a second end though an intermediate portion. A wedge member is operatively coupled to the second end of the stud portion. The wedge member includes a body having a generally frustoconical profile and is formed from a material having a Vickers hardness of between about 218 HV and about 290 HV. A sleeve element is positioned on the stud portion at the second end adjacent the wedge member. The sleeve element is formed from a material having a Vickers hardness of between about 218 HV and about 290 HV.
US08444351B2	Coating-powder-supply apparatus The coating-powder-supply apparatus according to the invention comprises a powder-storage container, a powder conveyor, in order to convey powder out of the powder-storage container, and a set of scales, in order to weigh the powder located in the powder-storage container.
US08444350B2	Resin system with carbon additive The gel time of a grouting system may be controlled by providing a resin component separated by a catalyst component, where a carbon component is included in the catalyst component. The catalyst component may include an inhibitor such as a phenolic compound, and/or the resin component may include a promoter such as an aniline compound.
US08444349B2	Grouted pile splice and method of forming a grouted pile splice The grouted pile splice for pipe piles includes a lower pile section, and an upper pile section including an integral driving portion adapted to apply a driving force to the lower pile section. The upper pile section includes a stabbing portion sized to extend through a proximal end opening and into an inner bore of the lower pile section to form an annulus space between the upper pile section and the lower pile section to receive grout. The driving portion may include a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the stabbing portion, and an annular land positioned to contact a proximal end of the lower pile section. A grout distributor assembly may be mounted in the upper pile section to receive grout. A grout line assembly is inserted into the upper pile section and mated with the distributor assembly to supply pumped grout to the annulus space.
US08444348B2	Modular offshore platforms and associated methods of use and manufacture Modular offshore platform systems and associated methods of transport and assembly are disclosed herein. A method of transporting a modular offshore platform to an offshore location in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes transporting towing a first platform portion of the offshore platform to an offshore location and transporting a second platform portion of the offshore platform to the offshore location separately from the first platform portion. The method further includes attaching the second platform portion to the first platform portion at the offshore location, and anchoring at least one of the first and second platform portions to a sea floor at the offshore location.
US08444347B2	Truss heave plate system for offshore platform The disclosure provides an offshore platform and related method, having: a floating structure, a truss assembly coupled to the floating structure, and a heave plate coupled to the truss assembly. The floating structure includes a pontoon adapted to be disposed at least partially below a surface of water in which the offshore platform is disposed; and at least three vertically extending columns coupled to the pontoon, the columns having a larger lateral dimension than the pontoon coupled to the column, creating a pontoon offset portion. The truss assembly includes at least three separated walls of trusses slidably coupled to the columns, each truss wall having at least two vertically disposed truss legs, each truss leg being slidably coupled to a column at the pontoon offset portion independently from a truss leg of an adjacent wall; and cross-bracing between the truss legs of each of the truss walls.
US08444346B2	Method of installing geothermal heat pump system and device for installation An installation tool for installation of earth loops includes a cylindrical body with slots in its outer surface, for receiving of tubes of the earth loops, and a central passage extending therethrough from a grout fitting to a central opening at a leading end face of the cylindrical body. An anchor fits over the end face and includes a face plate with tube apertures extending therethrough, a retainer ring which serves to hold the earth loops in place within the slots during insertion of the tool into the borehole, and a pair of flexible plates extending from opposing positions on the retainer ring, approximately in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. In use, a plurality of straight (linear) boreholes are drilled at an angle relative to the horizontal of 5° to less than 90°, preferably 5° to 45°, at least two coupled tube pairs are inserted into each borehole and then grout is injected to force the anchor away from the cylindrical body, to fill the boreholes surrounding the earth loops and to form a seal for heat exchange between the earth loops the surrounding earth.
US08444344B2	Temporary containment of oil wells to prevent environmental damage A containment vessel is moved proximate to and preferably surrounding the wellhead, such that leaking oil enters an interior chamber of the vessel. A fluid pump of the containment system is actuated to flow leaking hydrocarbon fluid through a conduit toward a collection sump. A controller controls the speed or volume of a fluid pump to maintain suction force within the interior chamber, or the pressure at wellhead annulus site (PWAS) at a set point that is based on seabed pressure.
US08444343B2	Impact-absorbing anchoring assembly for protective barrier A bollard assembly includes a bollard, and a load transfer member disposed in the bollard, and a shock absorber disposed within the load transfer member. A fastener extends through the load transfer member and shock absorber, and secures the bollard, load transfer member and shock absorber to a ground surface. The load transfer member adjoins the bollard so as to be disposed between the shock absorber and the bollard, and the load transfer member is configured so that when an impact force is applied to the bollard, the force is transferred from the bollard to the shock absorber via the load transfer member. The deflection is absorbed by the shock absorber so that the anchor remains undeformed and the ground remains undamaged. Moreover, due to the resilience of the shock absorber, the bollard and load transfer member are returned to a normal, upright orientation upon withdrawal of the impact load.
US08444340B2	Dental treatment instrument The dental treatment instrument includes a toothbrush having common brush head dimensions and a nozzle on the backside of the bristle pad thereof. The tip of the nozzle points backward relative to the bristle pad and is inclined away from the handle end of the toothbrush. The bristle pad is used as a rest pad laid against the cheek wall of the user for steadying the movement of the nozzle. In another aspect of the present invention, the toothbrush has a push-button-operated valve mounted in the handle end of the toothbrush for selectively letting water flow through to the nozzle. The push button is partly enclosed in a shroud. The push button is mounted in the shroud with a sliding fit. The shroud prevents water and toothpaste from seeping below the push-button.
US08444337B2	Lip balm with spherical surface and method for producing A lip balm applicator product comprises upper and lower portions that are connectable together to define the applicator product being of a substantially spherical shape. A support platform is located in the lower portion and accommodates a quantity of lip balm having an arcuate surface. A lip balm comprises a composition of waxes and oils in solid form and formed to have an arcuate surface. The composition is formed to have the arcuate surface using a hot pour process. A method of manufacturing a lip balm comprises providing a receptacle having a concave arcuate surface. A lip balm material in a heated, liquefied phase is poured into the receptacle. Once poured, the heated, liquefied phase is allowed to solidify such that a surface of the solidified lip balm material has an arcuate configuration that corresponds to the concave arcuate surface of the receptacle.
US08444336B2	Lead cartridge and mechanical pencil with built-in lead cartridge A lead cartridge adapted for storing leads and capable of being detachably connected to a lead feeding mechanism of a mechanical pencil to supply the leads one by one to the lead feeding mechanism, the mechanical pencil being provided with an interference part, the lead feeding mechanism being provided with a receiving part. The lead cartridge includes a tank part for storing the leads, a tip end connection part capable of being detachably fitted with the receiving part of the lead feeding mechanism, a lead port provided on a tip end side of the tank part to allow one of the leads in the tank part to pass from the tank part, and a swing cover arranged in the lead cartridge to be swingable between a closing position where the swing cover closes the lead port, and an opening position where the swing cover opens the lead port.
US08444335B2	Multi-color pen A multi-color pen includes a multi-segmented pen body including a longitudinally extending cylindrical hollow tube having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of cylindrical sub-assemblies each of which includes a supply of writing material and a writing point connected to one of the supplies of writing materials. An eraser is disposed at an end of a hollow tube and is shown with a removable cover. The cover may include a compass or a digital thermometer in place of the digital clock. In addition, a rotatable pocket clip extends from the top of the cover and includes a ruler having a straight edge and graduations of length as well as a knife blade or letter opener that is rotatably separable with respect to the ruler.
US08444334B2	Container for the motion of a double stick with a single stick holder A container with a roto-translatory motion of a stick holder (1) provided with a pair of opposed sticks (3, 3′) in comparison with the support surface plane (4) and upper (5) and lower (5′) pins, that axially slide inside an intermediate body (7), provided with vertical grooves (11, 11′) inside its central wall (10) and slits (8, 8′) and (9, 9′) on its upper (7′) and lower (7″) portions rotating in the inside of a pair of outer bodies (13, 13′). The pins (5, 5′) slide inside annular grooves (14, 14′), helicoidal groove (16, 16′) and (17, 17′) made in the inner wall of these outer bodies (13, 13′), such that the pair of sticks (3, 3′) can be controlled to come out from both ends, upper (7′) and lower (7″) portions of the intermediate body, when the ends are apart from the respective caps/bases (22, 22′) of covering.
US08444329B2	Camera mounting structure, camera mounting method and exterior panel component of a vehicle A camera mounting structure for mounting an on-vehicle camera on a vehicle, in which the on-vehicle camera includes an imaging module having a lens and an imaging element, and in an exterior panel component making up an exterior of the vehicle, a bracket part for attaching the imaging module is molded integrally with the exterior panel component as a portion of the exterior panel component.
US08444328B2	Electro-optical assembly fabrication A flip-chip bonder fabricates an optical assembly by horizontally positioning a flexible portion of a substrate including a waveguide with the waveguide exposed at one end edge of the substrate; bending a portion of the flexible substrate to place the waveguide exposed end in approximately a vertical position; vertically positioning a bond head containing an optical component upon the waveguide exposed substrate edge to optically mate the optical component with the exposed waveguide; and fixably mounting the optical component to the substrate edge.
US08444326B2	Flexible optical coupling An optical fiber coupling device, comprises a coupling assembly that includes a first ferrule and a second ferrule and an optical fiber having a first end mounted in the first ferrule and a second end mounted in the second ferrule. The first ferrule is disposed in an axial bore of a first barrel and the second ferrule is disposed in an axial bore of a second barrel. The coupling assembly is disposable in a coupling housing configured to receive at least two optical fiber connectors.
US08444325B2	Connectors for cable carrying conduits A connector for a conduit for a cable (e.g. an optical fiber cable or a power cable). The connector comprises a hollow body having a throughway for the cable with a coupling for a conduit at one end and a cavity in which an annular seal is located. An actuator is provided to compress the seal radially inwardly into engagement with the cable and into engagement with said side of the cavity to block flow of fluid (gas or liquid) through the cavity and/or to grip the cable. The connector may have means to retain the actuator in the position in which it compresses the seal.
US08444321B2	Bearing anti creep device and method The present invention is an anti rotational creep bearing including a socket designed in the inner race of the bearing for partially receiving an anti creep ball therein, further including a shaft onto which the bearing is to be longitudinally mounted, including a channel defined along a longitudinal direction for receiving there along the anti creep ball projecting from its socket, wherein the depth of the socket plus the depth of the channel is at least equal to the diameter of the anti creep ball, such that when the bearing is installed on the shaft, the anti creep ball prevents creep in the rotational direction, however allows movement in the axial direction.
US08444320B2	Tear resistant bag A tie bag for storing refuse or garbage includes an undulating top edge defining an opening to the bag. The top edge may include two flaps and two valleys. In one embodiment, the valley may include a flat portion at the bottom of the valley. The flaps may be tied together to at least partially close the bag. The bag further may include a first seam that intersects the flat portion of the valley. The flat portion reduces the possibility of tearing the seam. In another embodiment, the valley may include a slit. In an additional embodiment, the valley may include two secondary valleys and a center valley. In another embodiment, the seam may intersect the top edge at a point other than the lowest point in the valley.
US08444319B2	Bag with improved features The bag for receiving refuse may include a bag body, the bag body including an inside surface, an outside surface, and a rim defining a mouth. The bag may also include a first strip of material disposed on the inside surface of the bag body proximate the rim. The strip may include an inside surface, an outside surface that faces the inside surface of the body, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The bag may also include a front wall, a back wall, and a hem, the hem including a drawstring. The strip may include a printed design. The design could be letters, numbers, pictures, writing, or any other design. When the bag is inserted into a trash receptacle such that the rim of the bag is folded over the rim of the receptacle, the printed design is visible from outside the receptacle.
US08444316B2	Temperature measuring device and method Current reading means detects an output current of a current source whose output current varies with a variation in temperature and outputs a value proportional to the output current. The temperature of the current source corresponding to the output value of the current reading means which is proportional to the output current of the current source is measured, and a parameter for converting the output value to temperature information is determined from the output value of the current reading means and the measured value of the temperature of the current source corresponding to the output value. The output value of the current reading means is converted to the temperature information using the determined parameter.
US08444315B2	Method of determining thermophysical properties of solid bodies The invention is related to methods for determining thermophysical properties of solid bodies, particularly, to methods for determining thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity. In accordance with the method, a reference sample and sequentially located samples of solid bodies are heated by a thermal energy source moving at a constant speed relative to the reference sample and the samples being studied. Excessive temperatures of the surfaces of the reference sample and the studied samples at points on a line of heating are measured and the thermophysical properties of the reference sample and the samples being studied are determined. Arbitrary shape samples are used and thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of the samples are determined by solving an inverse coefficient problem of thermal conductivity.
US08444314B2	Dampening apparatus and method for single piston pump used in determining the thermal stability of fluids A thermal oxidation tester is shown for determining thermal stability of a fluid, particularly hydrocarbons when subjected to elevated temperatures. The tendency of the heated fluid to oxidize and (1) form deposits on a surface of a heater tube and (2) form solids therein, are both measured at a given flow rate, temperature and time. The measured results are used to determine whether a fluid sample passes or fails the test. Results of the measurements are recorded. The fluid under test is pumped with a low volume, high pressure, single piston pump with only a small fluctuation (pulsation) in output flow.
US08444311B2	Lamp holder structure with universal accommodating slot The present invention relates to a lamp holder structure comprising a main body having a universal accommodating slot and an accommodating space concavely formed at the top and the bottom of the main body respectively, and a first electrically conductive plate and a second electrically conductive plate both installed at the top of the main body proximate to the universal accommodating slot, wherein the second electrically conductive plate is electrically coupled with a lamp holder base contained in the accommodating space, a metal spring plate is embedded into the main body, and a pressing element is contained in the universal accommodating slot and can be rotated or moved back and forth in the universal accommodating slot for pressing against a flange of the metal spring plate, such that the metal spring plate can be electrically coupled to or detached from the first electrically conductive plate.
US08444310B2	LED module with fast disassembly function A LED module with fast disassembly function is capable of being disassembled from a hole of a substrate by a tool and includes a lamp base, a LED and fasteners. The lamp base has tabs extending outwards. Each of the tabs is provided with a through-hole corresponding to the hole. The tab is formed with an inclined surface at the periphery of the through-hole. The LED is fixed on the lamp base. Each of the fasteners has a cap. The fastener is disposed through the hole and the through-hole to be fixed thereto. A notch is formed between the cap and the inclined surface. The tool is disposed in the notch to thereby disassemble the fastener from the hole and the through-hole. With this arrangement, the damaged LED can be detached from the substrate rapidly without replacing the whole LED module, thereby reducing the time and cost for maintenance.
US08444309B2	Wiring device with illumination One embodiment of the invention relates to an electrical device having illumination comprising a housing and at least one light pipe extending along a longitudinal axis, inside the housing. There is at least one light disposed in the housing and being positioned adjacent to the light pipe. The light has a radiation pattern having a corresponding peak radiation pattern direction which extends along the longitudinal axis of the light pipe.
US08444305B2	Motorcycle head light device A head light device, according to one embodiment, has a head light, a position light provided around the head light, a reflector to reflect bulb light of the head light, and an extension covering the perimeter of the reflector. The extension covers a position in front of the position light, and the extension is provided with openings, and reflection members to guide the light of the position light to the outside.
US08444303B2	Heat dissipation arrangement for LED lighting device An LED lighting device includes a plurality of parallel illumination assemblies each including an elongated metal bar and a plurality of LED elements secured to the bar, and a heat dissipation assembly comprising a metal substrate comprising a plurality of hollow posts arranged in rows on a top surface; a plurality of parallel metal units each comprising a rod releasably secured to both the substrate and the bar, the rod including a plurality of hollow, closed U-shaped members each partially fastened in the post; and a plurality of metal frame members for releasably securing the rods together.
US08444301B2	Lens and illumination device A lens includes a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. The light exiting surface includes a first curved surface, a first convex surface, a second convex surface, a second curved surface, and a third curved surface. The first curved surface is located at the center of the light exiting surface. The first and second convex surfaces are arranged at two opposite sides of the first curved surface respectively for converging the light exiting therefrom, the first convex surface, the first curved surface, and the second convex surface connect in sequence along a first direction. The first and third curved surface are arranged at another two opposite sides of the first curved surface respectively; the second curved surface, the first curved surface, and the third curved surface connect in sequence along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

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